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In smiling June when roses bloom and the warbler cheers the grove,
By a babbling brook my way I took quite carelessly to roam;
I met with White, my heart's delight, saying why is it you're alone?
O the day being fine, if you're inclined, o along with me to roam.
'I am sorry but I can't accept your invitation now,
For my maw she will be harsh at me, or no pastime she'll allow.'
'Your maw won't know where we will go, sure let us try our skill,
We will walk awhile, we will sit and smile, convenient to Court Hill.'
O she gave consent, 'twas on we went on our discourse along —
'Twas manys a time he said to me: 'No one I love but thee.'
But now he's gone and wed to one by the name of Belle Madel,
And I'm left, poor Kate, in that sad state, heart-broken on Court Hill.
O you ladies all both great and small, o a warning take by me,
Don't never depend on any young man until the knot is tied;
For if you do you'll surely rue, like me you'll cry your fill —
For I am ruined right, by Willie White, the champion of Court Hill.
Collected in 1975 from Val Ryan of St. John's, NL, by Genevieve Lehr and Anita Best and published as #18 in Come And I Will Sing You: A Newfoundland Songbook, pp.31-32, edited by Genevieve Lehr (University of Toronto Press © 1985/2003).
Genevieve Lehr noted that several people have suggested to her that this song may be referring to Coote Hill in Ireland. The song certainly has an Irish flavour. Val learned it from Clem Bonia of North Harbour, St. Mary's Bay, NL, (where Val was originally from). There was a part he couldn't remember and therefore Lehr had to rearrange a couple lines so that the verses conform to the tune.
