Here's a Health Unto All True Lovers

from "Pick of the Literal" by Sean Smith

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A night-visiting song that has many variants, at least one of which you have almost unquestionably heard, somewhere, sometime. The melody is what caught my ear on this one, collected by Helen Creighton from William Gilkie and his mother, Mrs. Sandy Gilkie in Sambro, Nova Scotia. I give credit to Norah Rendell and her exquisite “Spinning Yarns” album for motivating me to learn it.

lyrics

And here’s a health unto all true lovers
And unto mine, where’er she be.
This very night, love, I long to be with you,
It’s many’s the long mile between her and me

Let the night be as dark as dungeons,
And let no gray light to appear
I will be guided without a stumble
Into the loving arms of you, my dear

And when he came to his true love’s window,
He gently knelt down upon a stone.
And through the keyhole he whispered softly,
Saying, My jewel, are you alone?

She rose her head from her snow-white pillow,
And almost naked was her lily-whiste breast.
Who’s there, who’s there, rapping at my window,
Disturbing me from my long night's rest?

It’s your own true love, pray now don’t discover
But open the door and let me in.
For I am wet, love, from this long night's journey
Besides I am frozen unto the skin

And when the night, it was past and over
And then the cocks began to crow
We kissed, shook hands and in sorrow parted
I took my leave and from her did go.

credits

from "Pick of the Literal", released August 7, 2018

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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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