As I came down from Tottenham
Upon a market day
'Twas there I spied a bonny lass
Her clothing was so gay
Her journey was to market
With buttermilk and whey
So we both jogged on together my boys
Sing Fal the dal diddle al day
"God speed fair maid" I said to her
"You are well overtook"
At that she cast her head aside
And gave to me a look
That was as full of lechery
As letters in a book
And we both jogged on together my boys
Sing Fal the dal diddle al day
And as we walked along the road
Together side by side
This pretty maid of Tottenham
Her garter came untied
For fear that she might lose it
"Look out, Sweetheart" I cried
"Your garter's coming down my love"
Sing Fal the dal diddle al day
"Oh now you've been so venturesome
So venturesome and free
Oh now you've been so venturesome
Will you tie it up for me?"
"Oh Yes, Oh Yes, If you'll come
To the undergrove with me"
So we both jogged on together my boys
Sing Fal the dal diddle al day
I took her to the undergrove
Among the grass so green
The fair maid spread her legs so wide
That I fell in between
Such tying of a garter
You have but seldom seen
And we both jogged on together my boys
Sing Fal the dal diddle al day
"Oh Now you've had your will of me
Pray tell to me your name.
Likewise your occupation
And where and whence you came"
My Name is Johnny the Rover
From Dublin Town I came
And I live alongside of the Ups and Downs
Sing Fal the dal diddle al day
So when she came to Tottenham
Her butter was not sold
By losing of her maidenhead
Which made her blood run cold
"He's gone. He's gone. He's gone.
He's not the lad for me
For he lives alongside of the Ups and Downs"
Sing Fal the dal diddle al day
abc | midi | pdf
Source: The Seeds of Love, Ed S Sedley, EFDSS, 1967
Notes:
Probably a 16th C song; often printed in 17th C and still current in oral tradition. In "Pills to Purge Melancholy" the tune is given as "Abroad as I was walking", a tune also associated with "The Lowlands of Holland".
Text collated from Pills, Merry Drollery (1661), Choyce Drollery (1656) with refrain and last two verses from Sharp's manuscripts where it is called "The Hazelbury Girl".
Tune collected by Sharpe from Tom Symes of Bredon Packington
"The Ups and Downs". James Reeves suggests the boy was a soldier since this was a nickname of the 69th Regt.
Roud: 364 (Search Roud index at VWML) Take Six
Laws:
Child: