This is a traditional ‘listening song’ with the narrator eavesdropping on a domestic drama. Our version is Irish in origin and taken from the music of Scottish folk supergroup, Five Hand Reel, from their album For A’ That.
The discourse between the two lovers is reminiscent of that in The Verdant Braes of Skreen, which we recorded on our 2023 EP, Clear Purling Stream.
Other alliterative variants of the song can be found around the British Isles, including B stands for Barney and T Stands for Thomas.
Appears on:
As I roved out upon the May morn, to take a pleasant walk
I sat down beside an old stone wall, to hear two lovers talk
To hear what they might say, my dear, to hear what they might say
So that I might know a little more about love, before (that) I might go away
[Chorus]
‘P’ stands for Paddy I suppose, and ‘J’ for my love John
‘W’ stands for false Willy oh, but Johnny is the fairest man,
Johnny is the fairest man, my dear, Johnny is the fairest man
I don’t care what anybody says, my Johnny is the fairest man!
Ah, come and sit beside me love, together on the green,
It’s a long three-quarters of the year or more, since together we have been,
Since together we have been, my dear, together we have been
It’s a long three-quarters of the year or more, since together we have been,
[Chorus]
I’ll go climb a high high tree, and rob a little bird’s nest
And I’ll bring back a pretty little flower to the girl that I love best
To the girl that I love best, my dear, the girl that I love best
Yes, I’ll bring back a pretty little flower to the girl that I love best.
[Chorus]
I’ll not sit beside you now, nor at any other time
For I have heard you love a pretty little chap and your heart’s no longer mine,
Your heart’s no longer mine, my dear, your heart’s no longer mine,
I don’t care what anybody says, your heart’s no longer mine.
[Chorus]