Here's A Health- Gilkie (NS) pre1950 Creighton
[From Helen Creighton, Maritime Folk Songs, 1961. Whether he's right or wrong, Bronson lists as Grey Cock No. 10 MacColl's version of Here's A Health Unto All True Lovers. According to Steve Gardham "Here's A Health Unto All True Lovers" is a "version of Roud 22568 Night Visiting Song (My Master Title)." I have studied all versions of all three ballads, Grey Cock, Willy-O, and Night Visiting Song and apart from a few Irish hybrids they are easily separated." With that information from Gardham we can still see the general theme and several stanzas (mainly 3, 4 and 5) are related to the Lover's Ghost: 1) the tapping at the window; 2) the girl rising to let her lover in and 3) the lover being wet-- from sleeping in the deep and 4) the cock crowing, forcing the lover to be going.
Text and notes from Creighton provided by Mick Pearce. TY
R. Matteson 2013]
Notes from Creighton: "Sung by Mr.William Gilkie and his mother, Mrs. Sandy Gilkie, Sambro, N.S., September, 1950. Although this reminds me of "When Barney Flew Over the Hills to His Katie," and "The Drowsy Sleeper," it is neither, and I know of it from no one but Mr. Gilkie."
HERE'S A HEALTH UNTO ALL TRUE LOVERS- From Helen Creighton, Maritime Folk Songs, originally from Mr.William Gilkie and his mother, Mrs. Sandy Gilkie, Sambro, N.S., September, 1950.
Oh here's a health unto all true lovers
And unto mine where'er she be.
This very night love I mean to be with you,
It's many's a long mile she is from me.
It's let this night be as dark as dungeons
And there no gay light all to appear.
My steps shall guide thee without a stumble
All in the arrums of you, my dear.
It's when he came to his true love's window
He gently knelt down all on the stone,
And through the keyhole he whispered slowly
Saying, "My jewels are you alone?"
She rose her head from her soft white pillow
And almost naked was her lily white breast,
"Who's there, who's there tapping at my window,
Disturbing me from my long night's rest?"
"It is your own true love, pray don't discover
But open the door love and let me in,
For I am wet after my long night's journey,
Besides I'm wet love unto the skin."
It's when this long night was passed and over
And then the cocks they began to crow,
We kissed, shook hands, I in sorrow parted,
I took my leave and from her did go.
--------------------------
X:1
T:Here's A Health Unto All True Lovers
B:Helen Creighton: Maritime Folk Songs, 1979
S:Mr.William Gilkie and his mother, Mrs.Sandy Gilkie, Sambro, N.S., September, 1950.
L:1/8
M:3/2
K:G
D2 G2 (Bd)|d6 (B/c/)d (d<e) d2|B G3-G2
w:Oh here's a_ health un_to all_ true lov-ers_
(DG) G2 (Bd)|(d6 {ed}B2) d2 (e<d) B2|A6
w:And_ un-to_ mine_ where_'er she be.
((3Aed) d2 (dB)|(G3 F) (EF)(GA) B> A B2|(E D3) B,2
w:This__ ve-ry_ night_ love_ I_ mean to be with_ you,
D2 G<G(A<B)|c4 B3 A G2 F2|HG4 z2|]
w:It's man-y's a_ long mile she is from me.