You Shall Be a True Lover of Mine- Decoster (ME) 1925 Barry B
[From British Ballad from Maine- Barry, Eckstorm, Smythe 1929;
R. Matteson Jr. 2014]
Barry's notes: We observe that the burden of the man's part varies from that of the woman's part, he says, "merry in time" and she says, "merry and fine."
B. "You Shall Be a True Lover of Mine." sent in August 1925, by Justin Decoster, Buckfield, who wrote, "It is a very old song."
1 As I rode out one morning in May,
(Let every rose grow merry in time)
I met a fair maid and to her did say,
"You shall be a true lover of mine."
2 "I want you to make me a cambric shirt,
(Let every rose grow merry in time)
Without any seam or needlework,
Then you shall be a true lover of mine."
3 "Go hang it out on yonder hill,
(Let every rose grow merry in time)
Where dew never wet and rain never fell,
Then you shall be a true lover of mine."
4 "You have asked me questions three,
(Let every rose grow merry and fine)
I suppose I can ask as many of thee,
Then you shall be a true lover of mine.
5 "I want you to buy me an acre of land,
(Let every rose grow merry and fine)
Betwixt the salt water and the sea sand
Then you shall be a true lover of mine.
6 "Oh, plow it up with a crooked ram's horn,
(Let every rose grow merry and fine)
Sow it all o'er with one peppercorn,
And you shall be a true lover of mine."
7 "Go, smooth it over with a peacock's feather,
(Let every rose grow merry and fine)
Go reap it all over with the sting of an adder,
And you shall be a true lover of mine.
8 "Now, when you have done your work,
(Let every rose grow merry and fine)
Come to me and you can have your shirt,
Then you shall be a true lover of mine."