"O will you accept the muselin so blue,
To wear all in the morning, and to dabble in the dew?"
"No, I will not accept of the muselin so blue,
To wear all in the morning, and to dabble in the dew,
Nor I'll walk, nor I'll talk with you."
"O will you accept of the pretty silver pin,
To pin your golden hair with the fine muselin?"
"No, I will not accept of the pretty silver pin,
To pin my golden hair with the fine muselin.
Nor I'll walk, nor I'll talk with you."
"O will you accept of a pair of shoes of cork,
The one is made in London, the other's made in York?"
"No, I will not accept of a pair of shoes of cork,
The one that's made in London, the other made in York,
Nor I'll walk, nor I'll talk with you."
"O will you accept the keys of Canterbury,
That all the bells of England may ring, and make us merry?"
"No, I will not accept of the keys of Canterbury,
That all the bells of England may ring and make us merry,
Nor I'll walk, nor I'll talk with you."
"O will you accept of a kiss from loving heart;
That we may join together and never more may part?"
"Yes, I will accept of a kiss from loving heart,
That we may join together and never more may part,
And I'll walk, and I'll talk with you."
" When you might you would not;
Now you will you shall not,
So fare you well, my dark eyed Sue."
The song now turns back in reverse order, with the "shoes of cork" the "Silver pin" and the "blue muslin" always with to each "When you could you would not" &c
abc | midi | pdf
Source: Songs of the West by S. Baring-Gould.
Notes:
Baring Gould notes:
Taken down, words and music, from John Woodrich, blacksmith. Muslin was introduced into England in 1670 and cork in 1690. Both are spoken of as novelties, and muslin is sung in the old form of the word, mouseline,(note in the song it is written as muselin)
Another version came from a Miss F. Crossing, these words were taken down from an old woman in South Devon, in or about 1850.
"My man John, what can the matter be?"
"I love a lady, and she won't love me."
"Peace sir, peace, and don't despair,
The lady you love will be your only care;
And it must be gold to win her."
"Madam, will you accept of this pretty golden ball,
To walk in the garden, or in my lady's hall?"
"Sir I'll accept of no pretty golden ball" etc.
"Madam, will you accept of a petticoat of red,
With six golden flounces around it outspread?"
"Madam will you accept of the keys of my heart,
That we may join together and never never part?"
"Madam, will you accept of the keys of my chest,
To get at all my money, and to buy what you think best?"
"Sir, I will accept of the keys of your chest,
To get at all your money, and to buy what I think best;
And I'll walk and I'll talk with you"
"My man John, there's a box of gold for you,
For that which you told me has come true,
And 'twas gold,'twas gold that did win her."
Another version comes from Yorkshire ("Haliwell Nursery Rhymes," 4th edition, 1846); another from Cheshire (Broadwood, "English County Songs," p32; another in Mason's "Nursery Rhymes" (Metzler, 1877, p27.) The melodies differ from the ours.
Roud: 573 (Search Roud index at VWML) Take Six
Laws:
Child: