In Castle Park- Amos Ash (Som) 1905 Hammond; 1908 Sharp MS
[From Henry Hammond Manuscript Collection (HAM/2/1/1) as first collected by Hammond in April, 1905. Cecil Sharp Manuscript Collection (at Clare College, Cambridge) (CJS2/9/1733), with music as collected by Cecil Sharp in 1908.
R. Matteson 2017]
In Castle Park- sung by Amos Ash at Combe Florey, Somerset in April, 1905 by H.E. Hammond and also on September 14th, 1908 as collected by Cecil Sharp.
1. In Castle Park a lad did dwell
A fair young damsel I knew quite well
He courted her till her heart he gained
And he's gone and leaved her quite full of pain.
2. She went upstairs to make her bed
Laid herself down and nothing said
Her mistress came unto her and said
O what's the matter my poor maid?
O mistress mistress what shall I do?
The pains and sorrows I undergo
Put your right hand on my left breast
My fainting heart can take no rest.
Away, away her mistress flowed from she,
"Some help, some help I'll get for thee,"
"No help I want nor none I crave,
Sweet William has brought me to my grave."
Taking this letter if he[1] can read,
Tell him to read it immediately;
Send me an answer without delay,
Sweet William stole my poor heart away.
O cruel young man as I know thou art
For breaking of that fair one's heart
In Abraham's bosom she shall sleep
Whilst thy tormenting poor soul shall weep.
We'll gather green grass all for her bed
And a feathery pillow under my head
The leaves that blowed from tree to tree
Shall be a covering over me.
1. MS had "you" with "he" written over it, after looking at Hammond's MS "you" was sung.