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Way down a lone green valley where the roses bloom and fade,
There lived a jealous lover in love with a beautiful maid;
One night the stars shone brightly, the night birds sang a song,
The jealous lover grew angry with the beautiful maiden he loved.
Tonight the stars shine brightly and softly the wind do blow,
Down to the maiden's cottage the jealous lover grew;
"Come love and we will wander down where the woods are gay,
Together we will wander and appoint our wedding day."
So, arm in arm they wandered down where the woods are gay,
"I'm growing tired and weary," she said, "I'm afraid to stay;
Oh, Willie I am weary. May I retrace my way?"
"Retrace your steps? No, never, for you have met your doom.
Oh, bid farewell forever to your parents friends and home."
Down on her knees before him she pleaded for her life,
When deep into her bosom he plunged the fatal knife;
"Oh, Willie, my own poor darling, why have you taken my life?
You know I always loved you and wanted to be your wife.
"Oh, Willie, tell my mother that I am dying here,
So she could come and see me and read for me one prayer."
"No, I won't tell your mother that you are dying here,
So she won't come to see you nor read for you one prayer."
"Oh, God forgive you Willie," that was her dying breath,
"I will forgive you Willie," and she closed her eyes in death;
He buried her quite lonely under a willow tree,
And left only the snowbirds to bear her company.
Collected in 1950 from Theresa White (b.ca.1934) of Port au Port, NL, and published in MacEdward Leach And The Songs Of Atlantic Canada © 2004 Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA). Variants were also collected from Eddy Primroy of Pouch Cove, NL, and Mary Dunphy of Tors Cove, NL, and published in MacEdward Leach And The Songs Of Atlantic Canada © 2004 Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA).
A variant was also collected in 1959 as Sweet Florella from Mrs. Wallace Kinslow of Isle aux Morts, NL, by Ken Peacock and published in Songs Of The Newfoundland Outports, Volume 2, pp.632-633, by the National Museum of Canada (1965) Crown Copyrights Reserved.
