The Banks of Claudy

As I walked out one morning
All in the month of May,
Down through some flowery gardens
I carelessly did stray.
I overheard a damsel
In sorrow to complain
Now for her absent lover
That ploughs the raging main.

I stepped up to this fair maid,
I put her in surprise,
I own she did not know me,
I being dressed in disguise.
Says I: " My lovely maiden,
My joy and heart's delight,
How far have you to wander
This dark and dreary night?"

" All the way, kind sir, to Claudy,
If you will please to show
Pity a poor girl distracted,
It's there I have to go.
I'm in search of a faithless young man
And Johnny is his name,
And on the banks of Claudy,
I'm told he does remain.

" If my Johnny he was here this night
He'd keep me from all harm,
But he's in the field of battle
All in his uniform.
He's in the field of battle,
His foes he will destroy
Like a roving king of honour
He fought on the banks of Troy."

" Oh 'tis six months and better
Since your Johnny left the shore,
He's a-cruising the wide oceans
Where foaming billows roar.
He's a-cruising the wide oceans
For honour and for gain.
The ship's been wrecked as I am told
All on the coast of Spain."

As soon as she heard him say so
She fell into deep despair
By wringing of her milk-white hands
And tearing of her hair.
" If my Johnny he be drownded
No man on earth I'll take,
But through lonesome groves and villages
I will wander for his sake."

As soon as he heard her say so
He could no longer stand,
But he fell into her arms
Saying: " Bessie, I'm the man.
I am that faithless young man
Whom you thought was slain,
And once we've met on Claudy banks
We'll never part again."
Translation: 
Language: 
Rate this poem: 

Reviews

No reviews yet.