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Oh, the maid went down to the well for to wash, |
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And the dew fell down from her snow-white flesh, |
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The dew fell down from her snow-white flesh, |
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As the sun shone down so early. |
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And as she washed, as she wrung, |
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She hung them out on the hazel wand, |
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She hung them out on the hazel wand, |
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And by there came a palmer man. |
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Oh, God speed you, Old Man, she cries, |
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God speed you, you pretty fair maid, |
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God speed you, you pretty fair maid, |
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As the sun shines down so early. |
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Have you got a cup, have you got a can? |
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Can you give a drink to a palmer-man? |
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Can you give a drink to a palmer-man? |
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As the sun shines down so early. |
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Oh, I've no cup and I've no can, |
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And I cannot give a drink to a palmer-man, |
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And I cannot give a drink to a palmer-man, |
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As the sun shines down so early. |
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You lie, you lie, you are forsworn, |
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For if your truelove came from Rome, |
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Then a cup, a can you'd find for him, |
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As the sun shines down so early. |
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Now, she swore by God and the good St. John. |
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Truelover she had never a one, |
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Truelover she had never a one, |
|
As the sun shines down so early. |
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You lie, you lie, you are forsworn, |
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For nine children you have born, |
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For nine children you have born, |
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As the sun shines down so early. |
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Oh, there's three of them lying under your bed-head, |
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Three of them under the hearth are laid, |
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Three of them under the hearth are laid, |
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As the sun shines down so early. |
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Three more laying on yonder green, |
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Count, fair maid, for that makes nine, |
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Count, fair maid, for that makes nine, |
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As the sun shines down so early. |
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Palmer, oh, Palmer, do tell me, |
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Penance that you will give to me, |
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Penance that you will give to me, |
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As the sun shines down so early. |
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Penance I will give thee none, |
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But seven years as a stepping stone, |
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But seven years as a stepping stone, |
|
As the sun shines down so early. |
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Seven more as a clapper to ring in the bell, |
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Seven to run from the apes of hell, |
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Seven to run from the apes of hell, |
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As the sun shines down so early. |
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Welcome, welcome stepping stone, |
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Welcome clapper in the bell to ring, |
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Welcome clapper in the bell to ring, |
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As the sun shines down so early. |
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Welcome stone, welcome bell, |
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Christ, keep me from the apes of hell, |
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Christ, keep me from the apes of hell, |
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As the sun shines down so early. |
