She’s Like The Swallow waltz

From Penguin Book of Canada Folk Songs, it’s a song from Newfoundland with a lovely tune.

Works well just as a tune - but here are the lyrics for those who wish to sing it.

She’s like the swallow that flies so high,
She’s like the river that never runs dry.
She’s like the sunshine all on the lee shore,
She loves her love but she’ll love no more.

Down in the meadow this fair maid went,
A-picking primroses just as she went.
The more she picked, oh, the more she pulled,
Until she gathered her apron full.

She climbed on yonder hill above
To give a rose unto her love.
Well, she gave him one, she gave him three,
She gave her heart for company.

And as they sat on yonder hill
His heart grew hard, and harder still.
He has two hearts instead of one.
She says, “Young man, what have you done?”

“How foolish, foolish you must be
To think I love no one but thee.
The world’s not made for one alone,
I take delight in everyone.”

She took her roses and made a bed,
A stony pillow to rest her head.
She laid her down, no more to say,
And let her roses fade away.

She’s like the swallow that flies so high,
She’s like the river that never runs dry.
She’s like the sunshine on the lee shore,
She loves her love but she’ll love no more.

Karen Casey has a nice version of this song on her "Songlines" CD.

Oh dear that CD is horrifyingly expensive - at least on Amazon. But she’s made lots of other recordings so thank
you for giving her a mention - will look out for her music now.

I first heard this lovely sad song in a setting by Vaughan-Williams (LP with Robert Tear, tenor) borrowed from a Glasgow library years ago. I expect the song came originally from England or Scotland but it was the version in Newfoundland that was rediscovered by one of V-W’s fellow folk song collectors. Maybe the original version just disappeared from UK.

By the way the LP has been reissued as a cd and some of the other songs are fantastic - The Unquiet Grave for one, accompanied by both violin and piano. Aboard a 98 is a fab sea song.

I’ve been singing this as one of the songs for my voice lesson while my teacher plays piano. We’ve done it both in the key of d major and a major. I wasn’t expecting to find it on here at all though. It’s a nice song.

I like these lyrics! They’re very different to what I learned in my class:
She’s like the swallow that flies so high,
She’s like a river that never runs dry.
She’s like the sunshine on the lea shore,
I love my love, and love is no more.
It’s out of wild roses she made a bed,
A stony pillow for her head,
She laid them down, no word she spoke,
Until this fair maid’s heart was broke.
(Repeat first part)

Whimbrel : I posted the cd (of Robert Tear, Hugh Bean + Philip Ledger) - called Folksong Arrangements - by Ralph Vaughan-Williams. It’s classical but really gets the feel of these songs.

Whimbrel’s words are more or less how I first heard this beautiful song. I shld think there must be other lovely tunes from Newfoundland - originating in UK perhaps, but enduring in that country?

x:2 is closer to how I’ve heard this sung as a song.

I find this song tune (I prefer x:2) one of the loveliest of songs anywhere. It may be sad, but the girl’s frustration with her two-timing lover and her decision to pick roses (or primeroses) and lie down, a stony pillow at her head - it’s unexpectedly inspiring.

I’ve known this (Newfoundland) song for some 40 years. Try it.

One of the loveliest songs there is - from Newfoundland, no doubt emigrated from somewhere in UK, I’d say England judging from the words. Strange how such a fine songtune could disappear in the place it originated, but get preserved in faraway Newfoundland. Thanks to whoever sang it in that cold climate and kept it alive. I prefer x:2 - but x:1 is nice too. Words above, sad aa can be!

Fairport Convention (album: Jewel in the Crown, 1995):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW438KED9VU

play video

Thanks, jeff lindquist, worth a listen for sure!