Sheffield Park- W. Carpenter (Heref) 1921 Sharp
[10 1/2 stanzas with music from Cecil Sharp Manuscript Collection (at Clare College, Cambridge) (CJS2/10/4848). I've added some corrections and missing text in brackets.
R. Matteson 2017]
Sheffield Park- sung by William Carpenter of Ross, Herefordshire on 2 Sept, 1921. Collector: Sharp, Cecil J
1. In Sheffield Park O there did dwell,
A brisk young lad, and I loved him well
he courted me my heart to gain,
He has gone and left me full of pain.
2. I went up stairs to make the bed,
I laid me down and nothing said,
My mistress came and to me said,
"What is the matter with you my maid?"
3. O mistress, mistress you little know,
The pain and sorrow I undergo,
O put your hand upon my left breast,
My panting heart can take no rest.
4. O take this letter to him with speed,
And give it to him that he can read,
And bring me an answer without delay,
For he has stole my poor heart away.
5. [My mistress away from me did go,]
Some help, some help I will have for you,
No help, no help, [no help] I crave,
Sweet William has brought me to my grave.
6. She took this letter immediately,
He read it over while she stood by.
And soon he did the letter burn,
Leaving this maid to grieve and mourn.
7. How can she think how fond I'd be,
That I could love O none but she,
Man was not made for one alone,
So I take delight to hear her mourn.
8. Then she returned immediately,
And found her maid as cold as clay;
O wicked man, how cruel thou art,
For breaking my own tell's [child's] heart,
9. I'll gather grass for her bed,
And a flowery pillow for her head,
And the leaves that blow from tree to tree,
They shall be a coverlets over she.
10. Now she in Abraham's bosom sleeps,
While they tormented soul do weep.