At the Setting of the Sun- Sam Fone (Devon) 1893 Baring-Gould A
[Baring Gould's version was published in Songs of the West (the 1905 edition, for which Cecil Sharp acted as musical editor). In Baring-Gould's MSS a second version appears with music attributed to J. Lukin, whose name is never mentioned in Songs of the West (1905 edition) or elsewhere. The 1905 published version is attributed to Sam Fone of Mary Tavy in Devon, July 12, 1893 (Baring-Gould A) but is a compilation of both versions with additional recreations by Baring Gould.
It seems unlikely that both versions from Baring-Gould would appear similarly with an added chorus since other similar traditional versions have not been found. The degree which Baring-Gould re-wrote the stanzas is unknown but he did change the first line of 3. "In the night the fair maiden all shining appears," The stanzas in brackets are as they appear in Baring-Gold's MS.
Fone was one of Baring-Gould's best informants and Sabine got over 90 songs from Sam between 1893-1897. See also the second version from J. Lukin which appears below Fone's in Baring-Gould's MS. Most of the text in brackets comes from Lukin's version.
R. Matteson 2016]
NO. 62 AT THE SETTING OF THE SUN
1. Come all you young fellows that carry a gun,
Beware of late shooting when daylight is done;
For 'tis little you reckon what hazards you run,
I shot my true love at the setting of the sun
CHORUS: In a shower of rain as my darling did hie
All under the bushes to keep herself dry,
With her head in her apron I thought her a swan,
And I shot my true love at the setting of the sun.
[Chorus: In a shower of rain as my darling did run,[1]
All under the bushes a shower to shun
Her apron about her head, I took her for a swan,
I shot the only maid I loved, at the setting of the sun."]
2. I'll fly from my country, I nowhere find rest
I've shot my true love, like a bird in her nest.
Like lead on my heart lies the deed I have done,[2]
I shot my true love at the setting of the sun.
In a shower, etc.
3. In the night the fair maid as a white swan appears,
She says, O my true love, quick dry up your tears,
I freely forgive you, I have Paradise won,
I was shot by my love at the setting of the sun.
In a shower, etc.
[3. "Oh it's son! dearest son! don't you run away,[3]
Don't leave your own country till the trial day
Don't leave your own country till the trial is done,
For shooting of your own love at the setting of the sun."]
4. The years as they pass leave me lonely and sad,
I can ne'er love another, and naught makes me glad.
I wait and expect till life's little span done
I meet my true love at the rising of the sun
In a shower, etc.
[4. In a night to her uncle the fair maid appeared,[4]
Saying, "Uncle, dear uncle of me be not a-feared
As my apron about my head in the rain I did run,
He shot me as a swan, at the setting of the sun."]
1. Actual chorus from his notebook.
2. The last two lines of stanza two were forgotten by Fone. Baring-Gould added these.
3. This is the actual text of stanza 3 as recorded in his notebook.
4. This is the actual text of stanza 4 as recorded in his notebook.