Lyrics John Barbury - Kate Rusby

John Barbury

There was a lady fine and gay
She looked so neat and trim
She went into her own garden-wall
To see her ships come in
And there she spies her daughter Jane
Who looked so pale and wan:
‘Oh, have you had some long sickness
Or lain ye with some young man?'
‘No, I have had no long sickness
Nor lain here with a man:'
Her petticoats they were so short
She was a nine months gone
She was a nine months gone
‘Oh is it by some nobleman?
Or by some man of fame?
Or is it by John Barbary
Who lately come from Spain?'
‘No, it is by a nobleman
Nor by no man of fame;
But it is by John Barbary
Who lately come from Spain.'
And she’s calld down her merry men
By one, by two, by three;
John Barbary was once the first
But now the last came he
‘Oh will you take my daughter Jane
And wed her out of hand?
And you will dine and sup with me
And be heir to all my land.'
‘Oh, I will take your daughter Jane
And wed her out of hand;
And I will dine and sup with you
But I do not want your land.'
For I have houses and I have land
And money out by the grand
And had it not been for your daughter
I’d never be your man, I’d never be your man