Johnny Doyle
Language: English
There’s one thing between us that I do confess, That I go to meeting and my true love goes to Mass. But for to go to Mass with him I’d count it no great toil, And the world I would wander with you, Johnny Doyle. A horse and saddle did my father provide; He thought to get me married and to be another’s bride A horse and saddle my father did prepare With six noble footmen to wait on me there. We rode all along until we came to Belfast town, Our horses being stabled and the footmen seated down. While they were at their merriment, I had my own toil For my heart is on the ocean with you, Johnny Doyle. It was in my dear brother’s arms that I was carried home, My mother she conducted me into my own bedroom, My own bed being the softest, my head I did lay down, For to seek consoling sorrow, my body it was found. “I’ll send for Johnny Doyle for you, my own darling child, I’ll send for Johnny Doyle for you, my own heart’s delight.” “You’ll send for Johnny Doyle, mother, but I fear it is too late For death it is coming and sad is my fate.” “Now death you are coming, you are welcome to me, From the pains of true love I’m sure you’ll set me free. There is more trouble in my mind than my poor tongue can tell, And my heart is on the ocean with you, Johnny Doyle.”
Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Herbert Hughes (1882 - 1937), "Johnny Doyle" [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2023-03-27
Line count: 24
Word count: 256