The Spanish Lady- Frank Harte (Dub) 1973 REC
[Fron the Topic LP "Through Dublin City," 1973. Harte's sixth stanza is unique and possibly a recreation. This arrangement uses Campbell's poem text with the "Twenty, Eighteen" and "Wheel of Fortune" choruses. It's likely that at least the second stanza and choruses were taken from the 1945 recording by Burl Ives (also published in Ives book in 1948).
R. Matteson 2017]
The Spanish Lady- sung by Frank Harte at The Trinity Inn on June 12, 1998 (first recorded by Harte in 1973).
Listen: https://www.itma.ie/goilin/song/spanish_lady_frank_harte
As I was a-walking through Dublin City
About the hour of twelve at night,
It was there I saw a fair pretty female
Washing her feet by candlelight.
First she washed them and then she dried them
Around her shoulder she pegged a towel,
And in all me life I never did see
A maid so neat about the sole.
CHORUS: She had 20 18 16 14, 12 10 8 6 4 2 none,
She had 19 17 15 13, 11 9 7 5 3 and 1.
Well I stopped to look but the watchman passed
"Say, young fellow, the night is late
Along with you home or I will wrassle you
Straightway though the Bridewell Gate."
I got a look from the Spanish lady
Hot as the fire of ambry coals
And in all my life I never did see
A maid so neat about the sole.
CHORUS:
As I walked back through Dublin City
As the dawn of day was o'er
Oh, who should I spy but the Spanish lady
When I was weary and footsore.
She had a heart so filled with loving
And her love she longed to share,
And in all my life I never did meet with
A maid who had so much to spare.
CHORUS
Well, I've wandered north and I've wandered south
By Stoney Batter and Patrick's Close;
And up and around by the Gloucester Diamond
Back by Napper Tandy's house.
But old age has laid her hands upon me
Cold as a fire of ashy coals
But gone is the lovely Spanish lady
Neat and sweet about her sole.
CHORUS
2ND CHORUS: And round and round goes the Wheel of fortune,
Where it rests it wearies me,
Young maid's hearts are so uncertain,
Sad experience teaches me.
CHORUS