Poor Sally Sits A-Weeping
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Lesley Nelson-Burns

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Lyrics
This song appeared in the Journal of Folksong Society in 1907. It was collected by H. E. D. Hammond in Dorset in 1906.* It later appeared in Hammond's Folk Songs from Dorset (1908). Poor Sally sits a-weeping
Down by the seaside,
Poor Sally sits a-weeping
Down by the seaside.
What ails my pretty jewel?
What heart's pain so cruel?
What ails my pretty jewel,
That do cause her for to cry?

Oh! I am uneasy
And troubled in mind,
Oh! I am uneasy
And troubled in mind.
Here's no joy nor pleasure,
Here's sorrow none can measure,
Here's no joy nor pleasure
In this world can I find.

Now once had I a sweetheart,
But now have I none,
Now once had I a sweetheart,
But now have I none.
He's gone and he's leaved me,
He's gone, he's deceived me,
He's gone and he's leaved me
In sorrow for to mourn.

If he had but a-loved me,
As he did pretend,
If he had but a-loved me,
As he did pretend,
He never would have leaved me,
Nor never have deceived me,
He never would have leaved me
Until my life's end.

Oh! it's I will go seek him
Since he's gone from me,
Oh! it's I will go seek him
Since he's gone from me.
A ship, love, I will enter,
My sweet life I'll venture,
A ship, love, I will enter,
And cross the salt sea.

Here's a bunch of blue ribbon
I'll wear for his sake,
Here's a bunch of blue ribbon
I'll wear for his sake;
And that shall be my mourning,
My mourning, my mourning,
And that shall be my mourning
Till death me do take.

From English County Folk Songs
See Bibliography for full information.
*Information from Steve Roud's Folksong Index.