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The Rich Lady
1
(1)
There was a
rich lady in London did dwell,
She lived with her uncle, she was
known well,
Down in yonder valley, where true lovers were
gay,
The gypsies betrayed her and stole her away.
2(2)
A
long time she was missing and could not be found,
Her uncle he
searched the whole country round,
He went to her trustee between
hope and fear,
But her trustee replied, "She has not been
here."
(3)
And up spoke her uncle with
courage so bold,
3I fear she's been lost for the sake
of her gold.
"Then life lies for life and we'll have life" he
cried,
"We'll send you to prison and there you must
lie."
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(4)
There was a young squire who courted her so,
Oftimes from the school room together would go.
"My
mind is in trouble,so great is my fear,
Had I the wings of a
dove, I would fly to my dear."
(5)
He
travelled through England, through France and through Spain
He
ventured his life o'er the water main.
At length he put up for
to stop for the night,
And in that same house, was his own
heart's delight.
(6)
When she saw she knew
him, she flew to his arms.
When he told her his stories, she
gazed on his charms.
"What brought you to this country, fair
lady!" said he,
"The gypsies betrayed me and stole me
away."
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182]
(7)
"Your uncle in London prison doth
lie,
And for your sweet sakes he's condemned to die."
"Carry me back to London, to London," she cried,
"Five
thousand I'll give and will be your bride."
(8)
When they came back to London her uncle to see,
Her
uncle was under the high gallows tree.
"Oh Pardon! Oh Pardon! Oh
Pardon! I crave.
Don't you see I'm alive your sweet life to
save."
(9)
Then straight from the gallows
they led him away,
The drums they did beat and sweet music did
play.
Every house in the valley did mirth did abound,
When they all heard and saw the lost lady was found.
Finis
4
Notes
1.
Also known by the variant titles,"The Lost Lady Found," and
"The Gypsy Song"
2.
In all verses, the last lines are sung repeated
as a refrain. Eg: The gypsies betrayed her, the gypsies betrayed her, the
gypsies betrayed her and stole her away.
3.
In other versions, the
trustee speaks this line.
4.
Variations of this song have
been recorded in Cheshire, Somerset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Lincolnshire, Essex
and Dorset England, as well at the Maritime provinces of Canada, and parts of
the United States
