British Waterside (Volkslieder (Folksongs), set by P. Grainger) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


Down beyond the British waterside, as I walked along,
I overheard a fair maid, she was singing a song.
The song that she did sing, and the words replied she:
"Of all the lads in England is the sailor lad for me".

You may know a jolly sailor lad as he walks down the street,
He is so neat in this clothing, and so tight on his feet.
Hits teeth are white as ivory and his eyes black as sloes;
You may know a jolly sailor boy by the way that he goes.

North Yarmouth is a pretty place, it shines where it stands;
The more I look upon it the more my heart burns.
If I was at North Yarmouth I should think myself at home,
For there I have sweethearts and here I have got none.

I'll go down to yon British waterside and build my love a touwer
Where the lords, dukes and skewiers may all it admire.
The King can but love the Queen, and I can but do the same;
But you shall be the shepherdess andell I will be your swain.

Authorship

Volkslieder (Folksongs)

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

Percy Aldridge Grainger (1882-1961)

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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