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As I roved out one evening in the lovely month of May,
Down by a shady valley I carelessly did stray;
I overheard a damsel and sore she did complain.
All for her absent lover that's crossing o'er the main.
He quickly saluted me and put me in surprise,
I own I did not know him for he being in disguise;
He said, "My dearest jewel, my joy, my heart's delight,
How far have you to travel this dark and stormy night?"
"Kind sir, a way to Claudie's banks if you'd be pleased to show,
Pity a distressed maid, it's there I have to go,
In search of a faithless young man, and Johnny is his name,
And it's on the banks of Claudie I'm told he do remain."
"Fair maid, a way to Claudie's banks is right here where we stand,
Don't you depend on Johnny for he is a false young man;
Don't you depend on Johnny for he'll not meet you there,
But come with me to yon green tree, no danger need you fear."
She wrang her hands and tore her hair and bitterly did cry,
"Since Johnny is gone and left me no comfort can I find;
Since Johnny is gone and left me no other bride I'll be,
Through shady groves I'll wander till he'll return to me."
Oh, when he saw her loyalty he could no longer stand,
He flew unto her two arms saying, "Betsy I'm the man;
Saying, Betsy, I'm the young man that's the cause of all your pain,
And since we've met on Claudie's banks we ne'er shall part again."
Collected in 1951 from Mrs. K. McCarthy of St. Shott's, 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 1951 from Francis O'Brien of Trepassey, NL, and published as Claudy's Banks in MacEdward Leach And The Songs Of Atlantic Canada © 2004 Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA).
