Foolish Young Girl- Jean Elvin (Buchan) 1952
[From "Tocher: Tales, Songs, Tradition" - Issue 43 - Page 41, 1991. SA 1952/13 B12. Recorded from Jean Elvin, Turriff, by Hamish Henderson. Also known as 'The Irish Boy'.
R. Matteson 2017]
"Foolish Young Girl" sung by Jean Elvin, Buchan
A foolish young girl was I, was I,
To lend my love to a farmer's boy;
A farmer's boy although he be,
He spoke broad Scotch when he courted me.
Another maid in yonder town,
My love went there and he sat her down;
He took the strange girl on his knee
And he told her what he once told me.
When my apron reached right down to my toe
He'd ha' followed me through frost and snow,
And now it reaches not my knee
He cares no more for my company.
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain,
I wish I was a maid again,
But a maid again I never shall be
Till an apple grows on an orange tree.
When I am dead and in my grave
Put a marble stone at my head and feet,
And on my grave carve a turtle dove
To show the world that I died of love.