A finger-picked folk ballad
Singer-songwriter, arranger and producer: acoustic contemporary folk but ranging into rock/blues/country/jazz/humour...all very eclectic, I'm afraid!
Martin Stirrup
Singer/songwriter
An old folkie who got back into it...
These days I sing and play guitar(s) and other stringed instruments, then score and orchestrate where appropriate. My taste becomes increasingly eclectic ranging from finger-picked folk through country to soft rock mixed in with a few more alternative and eccentric numbers, including the odd novelty foxtrot...
Story behind the song
This is a traditional English folk ballad that I wrote in August 2013… We’d driven down through France and met up with Steve & Connie (&Les&Denny) in a hotel in Cognac before going off to visit friends in the Dordogne. We retired late after a good meal and plenty of wine but I woke up at about 3 a.m. with this going around in my head. I got out of bed and scribbled it down on a scrap of paper on the floor - by torchlight so as not to disturb Sheila! I worked out the picking when we got back to England.
Lyrics
Dm G7 Dm
As I was walking lonely through the glade
Dm A7
A maiden fine and comely I did spy
Dm slide F Dm G7
She slipped along the path twixt light and shade
F G G7
And surely was most pleasing to the eye
F G Dm
And surely was most pleasing to the eye
Dm G7 Dm
I moved to cross her path as if by chance
A7
And with these words to her my luck did try
Dm slide F Dm G7
Are you afeared within these woods to dance
F G G7
And she replied most boldly no,not I
F G Dm
And she replied most boldly no,not I
Dm G7 Dm
Not I, not I, not I, not I, not I,
F G Dm
And she replied most boldly no,not I
I took her where the moss grew soft and clean
And laid her down without a second thought
And she was willing, aye and far from green
So there for half a day we took our sport
And when I rose refreshed as if from sleep
She said good sir I hope you will not fly
For now you’ve had your way you must me keep
And I replied dear lady no, not I
Not I, not I, not I, not I, not I,
And I replied dear lady no, not I (instrumental verse & sung chorus)
Then some time later walking through the town
I saw a lady fine come riding through
Bedecked in jewels and flowing, golden gown
Yet clearly that same maid that I once knew
I cried out, as my heart it took the rule
You are my maid , let’s have another try
She gave a glance that set me for a fool
She laughed you are mistaken sir, not I
Not I, not I, not I, not I, not I,She laughed you are mistaken sir, not I
