Songs

Roving in the Dew

by George Butterworth From Folk Songs from Sussex

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Text

Roving in the Dew
English source: Anon.

"Where are you going to, my pretty fair maid,
Red rosy cheeks and coal-black hair?"
"I'm going a milking, kind sir," she answered me,
"For roving in the dew makes the milk-maids fair."

"What is your father then, my pretty fair maid,
Red rosy cheeks and coal-black hair?"
"My father's a farmer, kind sir," she answered me,
"For roving in the dew makes the milk-maids fair."

"What is your mother then, my pretty fair maid,
Red rosy cheeks and coal-black hair?"
"The wife of my father, kind sir," she answered me,
"For roving in the dew makes the milk-maids fair."

"May I come along with you, my pretty fair maid,
Red rosy cheeks and coal-black hair?"
"Just as it please you, kind sir," she answered me,
"For roving in the dew makes the milk-maids fair."

"Suppose I ran away from you, my pretty fair maid,
Red rosy cheeks and coal-black hair?"
"The devil may run after you, I will stand and laugh at you,
For roving in the dew makes the milk-maids fair."

Composer

George Butterworth

George Sainton Kaye Butterworth was an English composer who was best known for the orchestral idyll The Banks of Green Willow and his song settings of A. E. Housman's poems from A Shropshire Lad. Read more here.

Poet

Performances

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