Key: D
Introduction:
C
There was a youth, and a well belov'd youth,
C F C
And he was a esquire's son,
F C Am
He loved the bailiff's daughter dear,
C G C
That lived in Islington.
C
She was coy, and she would not believe
C F C
That he did love her so,
F C Am
No, nor at any time she would
C G C
Any countenance to him show.
C
But when his friends did understand,
C F C
His fond and foolish mind,
F C Am
They sent him up to fair London,
C G C
An apprentice for to bind.
C
And when he had been seven long years,
C F C
And his love he had not seen,
F C Am
Many a tear have I shed for her sake,
C G C
When she little thought of me.
C
All the maids of Islington
C F C
Went forth to sport and play
F C Am
All but the bailiff's daughter dear
C G C
She secretly stole away.
C
She put off her gown of gray,
C F C
And put on her puggish attire
F C Am
She's up to fair London gone,
C G C
Her true-love to require.
C
As she went along the road,
C F C
The weather being hot and dry,
F C Am
There was she aware of her true-love,
C G C
At length come riding by.
C
She stept to him, as red as any rose,
C F C
And took him by the bridle ring
F C Am
"I pray you, kind sir, give me one penny,
C G C
To ease my weary limb."
C
"I prithee, sweetheart, canst thou tell me
C F C
Where that thou wast born?"
F C Am
"At Islington, kind sir," said she,
C G C
"where I have had many a scorn."
C
"I prithee, sweetheart, canst thou tell me
C F C
Whether thou dost know
F C Am
The bailiff's daughter of Islington?"
C G C
"She's dead, sir, long ago."
C
"Then will I sell my goodly steed,
C F C
My saddle and my bow
F C Am
I will into some far country,
C G C
Where no man doth me know."
C
"O stay, O stay, thou goodly youth!
C F C
She's alive, she is not dead
F C Am
Here she standeth by thy side,
C G C
And is ready to be thy bride."