The Ferryman's Daughter

(album: Gaelia - 2022)

Way deep down in the greenwood, oh
A-rap tap tapping on the window
A young blade and a rambli'n boy
A-crossed the wide river to go

The river is wide, the river is deep
The ferryman inside fast asleep

By and by a young girl came
Blinking sleep from her dark eye
She put her finger to her lip
So young and yet not so shy

The river is wide, the river is deep
The ferryman my father's fast asleep

I tell to ye a roven tale
Or recite to you a fable
If you will give to me some bread
And a little hot soup if you're able

The river is wide, the river is deep
The ferryman my father fast asleep

She put on a cloak of wool
And a pair of fine boots of deerskin
Lowering her pretty dark eye
He caught a glimpse of her fair skin

The river is wide, the river is deep
The ferryman my father's fast asleep

He laid her down in the greenwood, oh
Squirrel and a rabbit did scamper
He sang her the ancient roving tale
The melody did enchant her

The river is wide, the river is deep
The ferryman her father fast asleep

They bid farewell by the riverbank
He looked long into her dark eye
An otter splashed and quickly sank
Greylag goose in the gray sky

The river is wide, the river is deep
The ferryman her father
The river is wide, the river is deep
The ferryman her father
The river is wide, the river is deep
The ferryman her father fast asleep