Rosemary Lane- Liz Jefferies (Wex) 1959 Hudleston
[Rosemary Lane sung by Liz Jefferies (better known as Jeffares in Wexford) was recorded by Mary and Nigel Hudleston of Yorkshire at Kilmore, Co. Wexford, in 1959. Rosemary Lane sung by Liz Jefferies was also recorded in Bristol, 1976. The title has been changed by a number of recording artists to Rosemary Fair.
R. Matteson 2018]
"Rosemary Lane" was recorded by Liz Jeffries of Kilmore Quay, Wexford in 1959.
As you will go down Rosemary Lane,
Where every rose grows merry and fine,
Oh, you'll pick me out the finest girl there,
And I will make her a true lover of mine.
Oh, tell her to get me a camberic shirt,
Every rose grows merry and fine,
To be done without needle or needle's work,
And then she will be a true lover of mine.
And tell her to wash it in yonder well,
Every rose grows merry and fine,
Where water ne'er sprung nor rain never fall,
Then she will be a true lover of mine.
And tell her to dry it on yonder sharp thorn,
Every rose grows merry and fine,
For one of never grows since Adam was born,
Then she will be a true lover of mine.
When she is finished all of her work,
Every rose grows merry and fine,
Oh, tell her I'll got her camberic shirt,
Then she will be a true lover of mine.
And as you will go down Rosemary Lane,
Where every rose grows merry and fine,
Oh, you'll pick me out the finest boy there,
And I will make him a true lover of mine.
Tell him to get me an acre of land,
Every rose grows merry and fine,
Between the salt sea and the salt-sea sand,
And then he will be a true lover of mine.
Tell him to plough it with a ram's horn,
Every rose grows merry and fine,
And sow it all over with one grain of corn,
Then he will be a true lover of mine.
Tell him to reap it with a cock's feather,
Every rose grows merry and fine,
And bind it all over with strappings of leather,
Then he will be a true lover of mine.
And tell him to drive home on a snail,
Every rose grows merry and fine,
And thresh it all over with a mouse's tail,
And then he will be a true lover of mine.
And when he has finished all of his work,
Every rose grows merry and fine,
Oh, tell him to call for his camberic shirt,
And then he will be a true lover of mine.