The Blacksmith

Traditional
(Steeleye Span)

Dm                       C        Dm
Oh, a blacksmith courted me, nine months and better.
                        C              Dm
When he'd fairly won my heart he wrote me a letter.
         F         G   Am      Dm               G  C
With his hammer in his hand he looked so clever
       Am     Dm      Am           F        Dm
And if I were with my love I would live forever.

Oh, where has my love gone, with his cheeks like roses? 
He's gone across the sea a-gathering primroses. 
I'm afraid the shining sun might burn and scorch his beauty 
And if I were with my love I would do my duty.

Strange news has come to town, strange news is carried. 
Strange news flies up and down that my love is married. 
Oh I wish them both great joy, though they won't hear me 
And may God reward him well for the slighting of me.

"Oh what did you promise me, when you lay beside me?
You said you'd marry me and not deny me."
"If I said I'd marry you it was only to try you 
So bring your witness, love, and I'll not deny you."

"Oh witness have I none, save God Almighty. 
And may He reward you well for the slighting of me."
Her lips grew pale and wan, it made her poor heart tremble, 
For to think she had loved one and he'd proved deceitful.

Oh, a blacksmith courted me, nine months and better. 
When he'd fairly won my heart he wrote me a letter. 
With his hammer in his hand he looked so clever 
And if I were with my love I would live forever.


Maddy Prior collected this version from a number of texts in the
Folk Song Journals.  This Southern English song, like the
better-known 'Twanky-Dillo,' uses the 'blacksmith' as an epitome
of virility with the hammer filling the bill as a phallic symbol.

From the album "Hark! The Village Wait" by Steeleye Span, 1970