Joe Jencks

When a man’s in love he feels no cold, as I not long ago,

As a hero bold, to see his girl, I ploughed

through frost and snow

The moon she gently shed her light along my dreary way

Until at length, I came to the spot where all my treasure lay

I knocked on my love’s window saying, oh dear, are you within

And softly she undid the latch, so slyly I stepped in

Her hand was warm, her breath was sweet,

and her tongue it did gently glide

I stole a kiss, it was no miss, and I asked her to be my bride

Oh take me to your chamber, love, oh take me to your bed

Oh take me to your chamber, love, to rest my weary head

But to take you to my chamber love,

my parents would never agree

So set you there, beyond ere fire and I’ll sit close by thee

Oh many is the time I’ve courted you against your parents’ will

But you never said you’d be my bride, so now my girl sit still

For tonight I am going to cross the sea,

to far off Columbia’s shore

And you will never ever see your youthful love e’er more

Yes many is the time through frost and

snow I’ve came to visit you

Whether tossed about by cold winter winds,

or wet by the morning dew

But tonight our courtship’s at a close between you, love and me

So fare thee well, my own favorite girl, a long farewell to thee

Oh are you going to leave me now, oh pray what can I do

I will break through every bond of home

and come along with you

I know my parents won’t forget, ah but surely they’ll forgive

So from this hour I am resolved, along with you to live

Traditional Irish Song (Laws 020)

Adaptations by quirk of oral tradition and by Joe Jencks