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Bessie the Beauty of Rossinure Hill

from Some Time I Stood Still by Sean Smith

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Another love-at-first-sight, romantic-encounters-of-the-random-kind tale, along the lines of "Good Morning, Pretty Maid." Except that this one is from the subset of Irish traditional songs marked by hyperbolic language and playful, even outrageous rhymes, all delivered with a quite obvious wink of the eye. "Bessie the Beauty of Rossinure Hill" (sometimes given as "Rossimore Hill") is thought to be from Co. Fermanagh; the melody is often played as a slow air. I got it from a recording of Jim MacFarland of Derry via the online Irish Traditional Music Archive. There's also a lengthier version sung by Gabriel McArdle of Fermanagh.

lyrics

By the sweet flowing river in the fine summer season
Where the weather is warm and the meadows in bloom
The small birds sang quietly and everything most pleasant
Which caused me to wander away from my loom
I carelessly strayed by a lonely plantation
For to view of a fair one some time I stood still
She equaled bright Flora in her lofty station
She's Bessie, the beauty of Rossinure Hill

"Oh, darling, then really, please pardon my folly
For daring to speak with a goddess, you know
Pity a slave that's in deep melancholy
Struck down by Cupid, I'll tell you such woe
Your glance and appearance have my heart attracted
You may kill or cure me but I'm here at your will
This killing affection has me most distracted
My Bessie, my beauty, of Rossinure Hill"

She says then, "Young man, you must cease your intrusion
On some other fair one perhaps you mistreat
I here desire you to make a conclusion
For I'll not be flattered, I'll tell you quite plain
You know I'm no goddess, nor nearly celestial
But a poor peasant's daughter that lives near the mill
So banter no longer and treat me terrestrial"
Said Bessie, the beauty, of Rossinurre Hill

I says then, "Fair maid, I am no deceiver
The words that I spoke are the thoughts of my mind
And to be candid, I am only a weaver
Though future in life, I'll be constant and kind
I seek your affection and care not for money
That littering trash, sure, that will not coax will
My heart's near your bosom, accept it, my honey
My Bessie, my beauty, from Rossinure Hill"

She says then, "Young man, you do speak with some reason
I cannot slight you at all for being poor
I'm happy that poverty it is not high treason
For wealth unto any man is never secure
Till I see my parents, I can give you no answer
But I hope evermore my commands they'll fulfill
And to proceed further is only romancing"
says Bessie, the beauty, of Rossinure Hill

Well, I bid her goodbye and I parted from Bessie
Watched her the mountain, that enchanted place
And the most hardened tyrant I'm sure would me pity
If he was aware of my heart-wrenching kiss
So now I'll go home and apply to my shuttle
I'll use my exertions, my heart and my skill
And unto blind Cupid, I mean to do battle
For he wounded me sorely on Rossinure Hill

credits

from Some Time I Stood Still, released July 6, 2020

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Sean T. Smith Boston, Massachusetts

Sean Smith has been playing folk music since his teens, with a focus on the traditions of Ireland, Scotland and England in particular. He's been active in the Greater Boston music scene since the early '80s, and been part of numerous collaborations. He also writes about music for BostonIrish.com, helps organize an annual Celtic music festival, and has been known to drink Ballantine Ale. ... more

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