Historical Folk Lyrics
"Bound Down To Derry"

Come all you good people, I hope you'll draw near,
I will sing you a ditty will cause you to smile;
It's of a fair damsel that lived near Purling town,
She was clothed with riches, both famous all round.

As she was a-walking and her dress was milk-white,
And all that stood by her was shocked with delight.
They was lords, dukes and squires, but they all proved in vain;
There was not one of them could that fair lady gain.

Herself and her father was walking one day;
A brisk young sailor by chance came that way.
He was jolly, brisk and merry as he passed her by,
And she kindly saluted him and bid him draw nigh.

She says: My young man, come tell me your name,
Come tell me your land, come tell me the same.
I am bound down to Derry, young lady, says he,
And James was the name my godfather gave me.

Now, James, in this country I would have you to bide,
And your wedding-day I will be your fond bride.
It's put gold in your pocket and my life I'll lay down
That you are the first young man that sailed the world around.

0 no then, fair lady, 0 no then, said he;
There's parts of this wide world that I never see.

What would your old aged father then say
To marry a sailor was storing away?
I am bound down to Derry, a place I abode
And I hope there's no danger in travelling this road.

Up speaks her old father that stood there in sight,
You can have my pretty daughter to be your fond bride.
I'll put gold in your pocket and silver in store,
And James, I'll advise you to ramble no more.

It's early next morning to church they did go,
On a fine summer morning they called a great show.
They was lords, dukes and squires was there to be seen
To see lovely Jimmy and his beautiful queen.