Young William- George Smith (Hants) 1906 Gardiner
[From a G.B. Gardiner MS in the Vaughan Williams online Collection--
R. Matteson 2016]
Young William - sung by George Smith of Fareham, Hampshire on 25 July 1906 Collected by G.B. Gardiner and John F. Guyer.
Young William went a-hunting with his dog and his gun,
Down amongst the green rushes as the evening came on,
Down amongst the green rushes as the evening came along,
Young William shot his own dear[true] love in the room of a swan.
Young William throw-ed down his gun and homewards he run,
Crying, "Father dear father, what do you think I have done!"
Twas amongst the green rushes as evening came on,
Where Young William shot his own dear love in the room of a swan.
"Stay at home, my dearest William till your trial do come on,
And don't be downhearted because of a swan
At the day of your trial your father[1] he'll appear,
With forty bright guineas, if that will [make] you clear.[2]"
She'd an apron 'bound 'round her head, looked so white for a swan,
Standing in the green rushes as the evening came along.
1. usually it's his dead true love's ghost that appears.
2. original text "if that will you clear"