Rosemary Lane

Lyrics

Rosemary Lane

My take on this lovely traditional folk song.

Once I was in service in Rosemary Lane
I had a kind mistress the master the same
Till a sailor came there one night for to stay
And that was the beginning of my misery

Once supper was over he bowed down his head
He called for a candle to light him to bed
I brought him the candle as a good maid would do
Then he said now pretty Polly will you not come to

This young pretty maiden, she thought it no harm
To climb into bed and keep herself warm
Now what was done I would never disclose
But I wish that short night had been seven long years

Like a rose in the garden whose beauty’s all gone
You can see what I’ve come to from loving that man
No father, no mother, no hope at all
So me and the baby to the workhouse must call

So all you young maidens take a warning by me
Don’t trust a sailor who ‘er he be
He’ll court you, he’ll gift you, he’ll vow to be true
Then the very next morning he’ll bid you adieu