Track 2
The Shepherd Of The Downs
This is one I learnt early on from a CD by The Copper Family. Another song of LOVE ❤️❤️❤️
A little like “Come Write Me Down” in that there is a happy ending and a marriage, it’s a lovely song. No loss. No too-ing and fro-ing in this one. She loves him straight away, as quickly as he falls in love with her.
A shepherd of the downs being weary of his port
Retired to the hills where he used to resort.
In want of refreshment he laid himself down,
𝄆 He wanted no riches, nor wealth from the Crown. 𝄇
He drank of the cold brook, he ate of the tree,
Himself he did enjoy from all sorrow was tree,
He valued no girl be she ever so fair,
𝄆 No pride nor ambition he valued no care. 𝄇
As he was a-walking one evening so clear
A heavenly sweet voice sounded soft in his ear.
He stood like a post not one step could he move,
𝄆 He knew not what ailed him but thought it was love. 𝄇
Just two people who meet in a field and fall in love. The Shephard and the young woman. 😍❤️ I love how he is so content just walking along, enjoying the simple pleasures of life - drinking from a stream and eating whatever he finds growing on a tree.
He spied a young damsel, a fair and modest bride,
She had something amiss and disguised in her face.
Disguised in her face she unto him did say,
𝄆 “How now, Master Shepherd, how came you this way?”
I have to admit I then miss out the next verse from the original, just because I forget. Every. Single. Time!
It goes:
The shepherd he replied and modestly said,
“I never was surprised before at a maid.
When first you beheld me from sorrow I was free,
𝄆 But now you have stolen my poor heart from me.” 𝄇
Thus sung by the Copper Family:
He took her by the hand and this to her did say,
“We will get married pretty Betsy today.”
So to church they did go and they were married we hear,
𝄆 And now he’ll enjoy pretty Betsy his dear. 𝄇
Last (and first) track is tomorrow so look out for that as well as the whole album. I have loved releasing these songs. It means such a lot that people enjoy listening.