Oh! the Oak and the Ash
Language: English
Available translation(s): FRE
A North Country maid up to London had strayed Although with her nature it did not agree, Which made her repent, and so bitterly lament, Oh I wish again for the North Country. Oh the oak and the ash and the bonnie ivy tree, They flourish at home in my own country. O fain would I be in the North Country, Where the lads and lasses are making of hay; There should I see what is pleasant to me, A mischief light on them entic'd me away! Oh the oak and the ash, etc. I like not the court, nor the city resort, Since there is no fancy for such maids as me; Their pomp and their pride I can never abide, Because with my humor it does not agree. Oh the oak and the ash, etc. How oft have I been in Westmoreland green, Where the young men and maidens resort for to play, Where we with delight, from morning till night, Could feast and frolic on each holiday. Oh the oak and the ash, etc. The ewes and their lambs, with the kids and their dams, To see in the country how finely they play; The bells they do ring, and birds they do sing, And the fields and the gardens are pleasant and gay. Oh the oak and the ash, etc. At wakes and at fairs, being freed of all cares, We there with our lovers did use for to dance; Then hard hap had I, my ill fortune to try, And so up to London, my steps to advance. Oh the oak and the ash, etc. But still I perceive, I a husband might have, If I to the city my mind could but frame; But I'll have a lad that is North Country bred, Or else I'll not marry, in the mind that I am. Oh the oak and the ash, etc. A maiden I am, and a maid I'll remain, Until my own country I again I do see, From here in this place I shall ne'er see the face Of him that's allotted my love for to be. Oh the oak and the ash, etc. Then farewell my daddy, and farewell my mammy, Until I do se you, I nothing but mourn; Rememb'ring my brothers, my sisters, and others, In less than a year I hope to return. Oh the oak and the ash, etc.
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 Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich (1906 - 1975), "Oh! the Oak and the Ash", 1943, first performed 1944 [ voice(s) and orchestra ], from Eight British and American Folk Songs, no. 4 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Oh! Le chêne et la cendre", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Martin Jahn
This text was added to the website: 2011-01-12
Line count: 46
Word count: 402