“The Garden Gate”

Description

Mary and William have planned a secret meeting. She arrives at the garden gate at eight; William is not there. Nine comes; she searches, then vows to forsake him. He finally arrives at ten; he had been shopping for a ring. She forgives him

Supplemental text

Garden Gate, The
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

From Mary O. Eddy, Ballads and Songs from Ohio, #78, p. 195.
From a notebook in the hand of Rev. Franklin Eddy.

The day was spend, the moon shone bright,
  The village clock struck eight,
Young Mary hastened with delight
  Unto the garden gate.
No one was there, that made her sad,
  The gate was there but not the lad,
Which made young Mary say and sigh,
  "Was e'er a poor girl as sad as I!"

(3 additional stanzas)

References

  1. Eddy 78, "The Garden Gate" (1 text, 1 tune)
  2. SHenry H770, p. 485, "The Garden Gate" (1 text, 1 tune)
  3. BrownIII 319, "The Garden Gate" (1 fragment, in which the girl tells her mother she is going to the garden gate; it may be a separate song, but with only four lines, we cannot tell )
  4. ST E078 (Partial)
  5. Roud #418
  6. BI, E078

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1938 (Sam Henry collection)
Found in: US(MW) Ireland