Brookland Road

I was very well pleased with what I knowed,

I reckoned myself no fool--

Till I met with a maid on the Brookland Road,

That turned me back to school.



Low down-low down!

Where the liddle green lanterns shine--

O maids, I've done with 'ee all but one,

And she can never' be mine!



'Twas right in the middest of a hot June night,

With thunder duntin' round,

And I see'd her face by the fairy light

That beats from off the ground.



She only smiled and she never spoke,

She smiled and went away;

But when she'd gone my heart was broke

And my wits was clean astray.



0, stop your ringing and let me be--

Let be, 0 Brookland bells!

You'll ring Old Goodman out of the sea,

Before I wed one else!



Old Goodman's Farm is rank sea-sand,

And was this thousand year;

But it shall turn to rich plough-land

Before I change my dear.



0, Fairfield Church is water-bound

From autumn to the spring;

But it shall turn to high hill-ground

Before my bells do ring.



0, leave me walk on Brookland Road,

In the thunder and warm rain--

0, leave me look where my love goed,

And p'raps I'll see her again!



Low down--low down!

Where the liddle green lanterns shine--

0 maids, I've done with 'ee all but one,

And she can never be mine!