I ONCE LOVED A LASS (SHE'S GONE TAE BE WED TAE ANOTHER)
(learned from Charlie Brown Artman in the 1960s)
I once loved a lass, and I loved her sae weel
When I saw my love into the church go
When I saw my love sit doon for tae dine,
The men of the forest, they asked of me
So dig me a grave, and dig it sae deep,
So we dug him a grave, and we dug it sae deep,
(from miriam berg's folksong collection)
That I hated all others that spoke of her ill
But noo she's requited me weel for me love
For she's gane tae be wed tae another!
Wi' bride and bride-maidens, it made a fine show;
And I followed after wi' a heart full of woe
For she's gane tae be wed tae another!
I sat doon beside her and poured out the wine,
And drank tae a love that sh'ud ha' been mine,
For she's gane tae be wed tae another!
How many strawberries grow in the salt sea?
I asked right back wi' a tear in my e'e,
How many ships sail in the forest?
And over me head plant the floo'ers sae sweet,
And I'll lay meself doon for tae tak' a long sleep,
And maybe in time I'll forget her.
And over his head planted floo'ers sae sweet,
And he's turned himself in for tae tak' a long sleep,
And maybe in time he'll forget her.
(slower)And maybe in time he'll forget her.