Bluegrass Messengers

Madam I am Come For to Court You- W. Smith (Hamp) 1905 Gardiner

[From: George Gardiner Manuscript Collection (GG/1/2/62). Also mysteriously and incorrectly titled "Twenty Eighteen" in a handwritten MS.

R. Matteson 2017]

"Madam I am Come For to Court You," sung by William Smith of Twyford, Hampshire in June, 1905. Collected by G.B. Gardiner.

1 Yonder sits a fair pretty lady,
Who she is I do not know;
But I'll go and court her for her beauty,
Whether she answers "yes" or "no."

2 Madam, I am come for to court you,
If your favour I can gain;
And if you will entertain me
Perhaps I may call this way again,'

3 Madam, I've got gold and silver,
Madam, I've got houses and land,
Madam, I've the world of treasures,
All it is at your command."

4 I don't want your gold nor silver
Nor I don't want your houses and land,
Nor I don't want  your world of treasures,
All I want is a handsome man."

5 Madam you talk much of beauty,
Beauty's a thing that soon fades away,
Beauty's like a flower in the garden,
When it's out down it soon fades away.

6 Long gathered apples soon get rotten,
Hottest love[1] soon gets cold;
Lover's vows are soon forgotten,
Pray, pretty maid, don't be so bold.

1. Originally "Hot as silver"