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The Trees They Do Grow High

from Gathering Primroses by Ian Martyn

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about

This song was originally collected by Bertha Bidder. I first heard this on Steeleye Span's first album, Hark! The Village Wait. I also appreciate the versions by both Martin Carthy and Eliza Carthy, as well as the version sung by Bella Hardy and Lucy Ward.

More info: mainlynorfolk.info/lloyd/songs/thetreestheygrowsohigh.html

lyrics

Oh the trees they do grow high and the leaves they do grow green,
And many's the cold winter's night my love and I have seen.
On a cold winter's night my love you and I alone have been.
Oh my bonny boy is young but he's growing,
Growing, growing,
My bonny boy is young but he's growing

“Oh father, dear father, you've done to me much harm,
For to go and get me married to one who is so young.
For he is only sixteen years old and I am twenty-one,
Oh my bonny boy is young but he's growing,
Growing, growing,
My bonny boy is young but he's growing.”

“Oh daughter, dear daughter, I'll tell you what I'll do,
I'll send your love to college for another year or two.
And all around his college cap I'll tie a ribbon blue,
For to let the ladies know that he's married,
Married, married,
To let the ladies know that he's married.”

Now at the age of sixteen he was a married man,
And at the age of seventeen the father to a son,
And at the age of eighteen the grass grew over him.
Cruel death soon put an end to his growing,
Growing, growing,
Cruel death soon put an end to his growing.

And now my love is dead and in his grave doth lie,
The green grass grows over him so very very high.
I'll sit here and mourn his death until the day I die
And I'll watch all o'er his child while he's growing,
Growing, growing,
I'll watch all o'er his child while he's growing.

credits

from Gathering Primroses, released July 3, 2020

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Ian Martyn Santa Barbara, California

Video game soundtracks. Acoustic trad folk. Original and traditional songs and tunes.

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