Cambric Shirt- Mrs. Humphrys (Essex) 1904 RVW
[Vaughan Williams MSS., II, p. 110. From Bronson IV 2.42.1, p.441, Palmer 1999, No. 18, pp. 31-2, notes, p. 188; taken from Williams MS. See also Kloss.
R. Matteson 2018]
Cambric Shirt- Written down by Mrs. Humphrys of Ingrave, Essex on April 29, 1904. She is over 70 years old and learned the song "from her father."
[1] Come buy me come buy me a cambric shirt
Savoury says rosemary and thyme
Without any seam and (or?) good needlework
Then you shall be a true lover of mine
[2] Come wash it out in yonders well
Savoury says rosemary and thyme
Where the spring never dropt nor drop ever fell
Then you shall be a true lover of mine
[3] Come hang it all out on yonder thorn
Savoury says rosemary and thyme
That never has blew blossom since Adam was born
Then you shall be a true lover of mine
[4] And now you have asked me questions three
Savoury says rosemary and thyme
And now I will ask as many of thee
Then you shall be a true lover of mine
[5] Come buy me an acre of land
Savoury says rosemary and thyme
Beneath the sea-water and the sea-sand
Then you shall be a true lover of mine
[6] Come plough it up with one ram's horn,
Savoury says, rosemary and thyme.
And sew it all over with one pepper-corn
Then you shall be a true lover of mine.
[7] Come harry[1] it all with one bramble bush,
Savoury says, rosemary and thyme.
And cut it all down with one royal hush.
Then you shall be a true lover of mine.
[8] And make me a wagon with hair and lime,
Savoury says, rosemary and thyme.
And cart it all home with six jenny wrens.
Then you shall be a true lover of mine.
[9] Stack it all up in a mouse's hole,
Savoury says, rosemary and thyme,
And thresh it all out with an old shoe sole,
Then you shall be a true lover of mine.
[10] And fan it all up in an oyster shell,
Savoury says, rosemary and thyme.
And stack it all up in a goose's quill.
Then you shall be a true lover of mine.
[11] And then go to the market my corn to sell,
Savoury says, rosemary and thyme.
And bring home the money as I may a-tell.
Then you shall be a true lover of mine.
[12] And when you've done and finished your work,
Savoury says, rosemary and thyme.
Then come to me for your cambric shirt,
Then you shall be a true lover of mine.