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Cold Rainy Haily Night

Words: Collated from a Scots song (ca. 1779) and a 19th century broadside.
Tune: "The Gown Made New", from the 17th century.

    My cap is frozen to my head
    My heart is like a lump of lead
    My shoes are frozen to my feet
    With standing at your window
         Let me in the soldier cried
         Cold haily rainy night
         O let me in the soldier cried
         For I'll not go back again O

    My father's walking on the street
    My mother the chamber keys does keep
    The doors and windows they do creak
    I dare not let you in O
         Let me in the soldier cried
         Cold haily rainy night
         O let me in the soldier cried
         For I'll not go back again O

    O then she rose and let him in
    And kissed his ruby lips and chin
    And then they went to bed again
    And soon he gained her favour
         Then she blessed the rainy night
         Cold haily rainy night
         O then she blessed the rainy night
         She rose and let him in O

    Now since you had your will of me
    Soldier will you marry me ?
    No such thing can ever be
    So fare you well for ever
         Then she cursed the rainy night
         Cold haily rainy night
         O then she cursed the rainy night
         That ever she let him in O

    Then he jumped out of the bed
    He put his cap upon his head
    And she had lost her maidenhead
    And her mother heard the din O
         Then she cursed the rainy night
         Cold haily rainy night
         O then she cursed the rainy night
         That ever she let him in O




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