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Broken Ring Song

from The Gift by Clary Croft

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lyrics

Broken Ring Song

Traditional: Helen Creighton Collection

Helen Creighton collected this song in 1943 from the singing of Catherine Gallagher, Chebucto Head, Nova Scotia. Dozens of variants on this theme have been collected in the Maritimes and I have recorded one different from this on an earlier album, “False Knight Upon the Road”.

As a sailor walked all in a garden,
A pretty fair maid he chanced to spy,
‘Twas for to view her, he stepped up to her,
And said, “Fair maid can you fancy I?”

She said, “Seven years since my love has left me,
And seven years since I him did see,
And seven more I will wait upon him,
‘Til he comes back for to marry me.”

“Perhaps your lover he is married,
And is enjoying wedded bliss,
Or perhaps your love he is dead and buried,
The heavy ocean rolls o’er his breast.”

“Well if he’s married, I hope he’s happy,
And if he’s dead then I wish him rest,
But for his sake I will never marry,
The reason is that I love him best.”

“Oh, what if I be your single sailor,
The one you don’t expect me to be,
Oh, what if I be your single lover,
Who has come back for to marry thee?”

“Well, if you be my single sailor,
The one I don’t expect you to be,
Show me the ring that was broke between us,
And when I see it, I will believe.”

He put his hand all in his bosom,
His fingers being both brown and small,
Pulled out the token between them broken,
And when she saw it she down did fall.

He picked her up all in his arms,
And said, “Fair lady, I’m none the worse,
For I have plenty of gold and silver,
The cruel ocean I’ll no more cross.”

credits

from The Gift, released April 20, 2021

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Clary Croft Nova Scotia

Clary is a folklore researcher, author and recording artist. His newly published memoirs, Clary Croft: My Charmed Life in Music, Art, and Folklore, chronicles a career spanning over fifty years. His work with the traditional music from the Creighton Collection, has caused Clary to be called, “the acknowledged master of one of the richest repertoires in Canada.” [Halifax Mail Star] ... more

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