From the recording Far Hills
We first discovered this track, as many others have, from a popular recording by Shirley Collins and Davey Graham. Listening heavily to many recordings of the track, we paired the verses with a lilt inspired by Pete Seeger's more bombastic version recorded under the name Sally My Dear. The tune at the end of the track is a repeated excerpt from the famous waltz Tabhair Dom Do Lámh.
Nathan Bishop: 5-string fiddle
Connor Brogan: harmonium, guitar, toy piano, electric bass
Rob Helsel: vocals, 5-string banjo, organ foot-pedals
John Forrestal: organ keys
Lyrics
Oh Sally my dear, it's you I'd be kissing,
Oh Sally my dear, it's you I'd be kissing,
She smiled and replied, "you don't know what you're missing".
Oh Sally my dear, I wish I could wed you,
Oh Sally my dear, I wish I could bed you,
She smiled and replied, "then you'd say I misled you".
If the young men could sing like blackbirds, like thrushes,
If the young men could sing like blackbirds, like thrushes,
How many young girls would go beating the bushes?
If all you young men were fish in the water,
If all you young men were fish in the water,
How many young girls would undress and dive after?
If all you young men were hares on the mountain,
If all you young men were hares on the mountain,
How many young girls would take guns and go hunting?
But the young men are given to frisking and fooling,
But the young men are given to frisking and fooling,
So I'll leave them alone and attend to my schooling.