North country lass/The North Country Lass

The North Country LASS.

MY love she was born in the north country wide,
Surrounded with lofty mountains on every side
She is the fairest creature that ever I did see,
She excels all the maids in the north country.

⁠I’ve scarce taken my hand my pen for to hold,
To write my love a letter on the charms of gold,
Her teeth is like the ivory, her eyes as black as sloes,
She wounds my poor heart wherever she goes.

⁠O saddle me my horse that I may go ride,
O'er hills and lofty mountains whatever betide:
O'er hills and lofty mountains I’ll rant and rove,
And all for the sake of my own constant love.

⁠My parents have separated me from my dear,
Which caused me to weep and shed many a tear,
When at night I do weep, in the morning I cry,
It is all for the sake of my darling I die.

⁠My true love is as sweet as the cinnamon tree;
My love she is as nigh as the bark to the tree;
The top of it will wither and the root will decay,
And a fair maiden’s beauty will soon fade away.