Must I Go Bound- (Derry) 1909 Hughes

Must I Go Bound and You Go Free- (Derry) 1909 Hughes

[From "Irish Country Songs," Volume I, 1909: by Herbert Hughes from N. Ireland: Co. Derry. Hughes short song shows the association with the Unfortunate Swain group of songs. This version was covered in 1954 by American Folk singer Susan Reed who recorded a short song called "Must I Go Bound" for her 10-inch LP Old Airs From Ireland, Scotland and England (Elektra EKL 26).

R. Matteson 2017]

MUST I GO BOUND AND YOU GO FREE- Fragment of an old song from County Derry, collected before 1909.

Must I go bound and you go free,
Must I love the lass who wouldn't love me,
Was e'er I taught so poor a wit,
As to love the lass would break my heart.

I put my finger to the bush,
To pluck the fairest rose,
I pricked my finger to the bone,
Ah, but then I left the rose behind.

So must I go bound and you go free,
Must I love the lass who wouldn't love me,
Was e'er I taught so poor a wit,
As to love the lass would break my heart.