Spanish Lady- Nancy McCuddy Stevenson (TN) 1953 Boswell
[From Folk Songs from Middle Tennessee (Boswell Collection) edited Charles Wolfe. This US version with the standard Spanish Lady opening was collected by Boswell from Nancy McCuddy Stevenson of Clarksville, TN on Dec. 5, 1953. "Carbon City" resembles somewhat Frank Harte's "Chester City" in his version of "Madam I'm a Darling." The last stanza compares to Bell Robertson's version as well as another Irish arrangement "Galway City" by Clancy Brothers. The penultimate stanza is found similarly in Barnyards of Delgaty. This Tennessee variant has no stanzas of 8. Madam, I Have Come to Court You and is related to Spanish Lady I by its opening stanza.
R. Matteson 2017]
"The Spanish Lady" sung by Nancy McCuddy Stevenson of Clarksville, TN on Dec. 5, 1953, learned from her father.
1. I went down to Carbon City,
Twelve or one o'clock at night,
There I saw a Spanish lady,
Dressing by the candlelight.
CHORUS: Larry a-ma-lowdin, liden, looden,
Larry a-ma-1owdin liden lay.
2. With a vessel of cold water
And a mirror in her hand,
With her hair down over her shoulders,
Like an angel she did stand.
Chorus:
3. I can drink and not get drowsy,
I can fight and not get slain.
I can court a Spanish lady
And be welcome back again
Chorus:
4. Did you ever see a pewter vessel,
Mended with a copper pan?
Did you ever see a Spanish lady,
Married to an Irishman?
Chorus: