Folk tale in the Celtic tradition.
Steffan Offerman: Music/instrumentation/arrangement
Billy Playle:Guitar
Robyn McKenzie: violin/vocals
Donna Devine: Lyric
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Note: In earlier centuries, young men were captured by "press gangs" - often literally torn away from their lover's or their mother's side - and forced to serve on warships of the Royal Navy or in the British Merchant Navy. Although this activity occurred less often in Ireland than in England, nevertheless it did take place.
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By Lake and By Lee
V1
I once loved a young man
By lake and by lee
And he promised that one day
We would cross the green sea
Oh, his blue eyes were bright
As he paid court to me
Chorus
But one night a full moon
Lit this old harbour town
The press gang lay waiting
And we saw them too late
They bound him with ropes
And dragged him away
V2
I once loved a young man
By grove and by glen
Of all others the kindest
And the fairest of men
He asked should we marry
And I answered back 'When'
Chorus
But one night a full moon
Lit this old harbour town
The press gang lay waiting
And we saw them too late
I fought hard to hold him
But we both met our fate
Bridge
Now I stand on the pier near the place where I fell
And drowned in the ocean, so legends would tell
Oh, we travelled the sea, as he'd promised to me
But he journeyed wide and I journeyed deep
Chorus
Oh, one night a full moon
Lit this old harbour town
The press gang lay waiting
And we saw them too late
They tied him with ropes
And dragged him away
Outro
I once loved a young man
By lake and by lee
And he promised that one day
We would cross the green sea
© 2010 Donna Devine
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