> Shirley Collins > Songs > Higher Germanie
> Martin Carthy > Songs > High Germany
> Dave Swarbrick > Songs > High Germany

Higher Germanie / High Germany

[ Roud 904 ; Ballad Index ShH56 ; trad.]

There are three songs known as High Germany. This page describes the best known one; the second is also called The Two Lovers or True Lovers (Roud 1445) as sung by Tony Rose on his album Under the Greenwood Tree, the third is The Wars of Germany (Roud 5608).

Shirley Collins learned Higher Germanie from a field recording of Phoebe Smith by Peter Kennedy and sang it on the album recorded in 1959 by Peter Kennedy, A Jug of Punch, and on her anthology Within Sound. She recorded it for a second time in 1967 for her LP The Sweet Primeroses. This was also included in her compilations A Favourite Garland and Fountain of Snow.

Another recording of Phoebe Smith recorded by Paul Carter and Frank Purslow in her home in Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk, in 1969 was included on her LP Once I Had a True Love and on the compilations Hidden English: A Celebration of English Traditional Music and Three Score and Ten.

Martin Carthy recorded High Germany in 1965 for his first album Martin Carthy; this track was included in 1970 on the compilation Shades of Folk. A live recording with Dave Swarbrick at the Folkus Folk Club in 1966 is available on Both Ears and the Tail. Martin Carthy also sang this live in studio in July 2006 for the DVD Guitar Maestros. He commented in his original album's sleeve notes:

There are two distinct songs bearing the title High Germany. The one sung here was on a broadside by Such and also in A Collection of Choice Garlands printed in the 1780s. The wars referred to are probably those at the beginning of the eighteenth century. Some lines are taken from the other version which is also called The Two Lovers.

The Queensberry Rules sang High Germany in 2008 on their Fellside CD Landlocked.

Lyrics

Shirley Collins sings Higher Germanie

So, dearest Polly, the war it has begun,
And I must march along by the beating of the drum.
Come dress yourself all in your best and sail away with me;
I'll take you to the wars, my love, in Higher Germanie.

I'll buy Polly a pony and on it she shall ride,
I'll buy Polly a pony to ride all by my side.
We'll stop at every alehouse and drink when we get dry,
We'll be true to one each other and marry by and by.

It's when I get to Plymouth town, a bed for you I'll have,
That shall be covered in roses and the roses shall be red.
So when your baby it is born and smiling on your knee,
You will think of lovely Will, love, in Higher Germanie.

Oh, cursed are the cruel wars that ever they should rise
And out of Merry England press many a lad likewise.
They took my husband from me and all my brothers three,
And they sent them to the cruel wars in Higher Germanie.

Martin Carthy sings High Germany

“Oh Polly love, oh Polly, the rout has now begun,
And we must go a-marching to the beating of the drum.
Go dress yourself all in your best and come along with me;
I'll take you to the war, my love, in High Germany.”

“Oh Willy love, oh Willy, come list what I do say,
My feet they are so tender, I cannot march away.
And besides, my dearest Willy, I am with child by thee,
Not fitted for the war, my love, in High Germany.”

“I'll buy for you a horse, my love, and on it you shall ride
And all my delight shall be a-riding by your side.
We'll stop at every alehouse and drink when we are dry,
We'll be true to one another, get married by and by.”

Oh, cursed be them cruel wars that ever they should rise
And out of Merry England press many a man likewise.
They pressed my true love from me, likewise my brothers three,
And sent them to the war, my love, in High Germany.

My friends I do not value nor my foes I do not fear,
Now my love has left me I wander far and near.
And when my baby it is born and a-smiling on my knee
I'll think on lovely Willy in High Germany.

(repeat first verse)

Bram Taylor sings High Germany

Woe be to the orders that took my love awa',
And woe be to the cruel cause that makes my tears doon fall;
And woe be to the bloody wars of high Germany
For they have taken my love and left a broken heart to me.

The drums beat in the morning before the break of day
And the wee, wee fifes led loud and clear while yet the morn was gray;
And, any, the bonnie flag unfurled, a gallant sight to see,
And woe to me for my soldier lad was marched to Germany.

Long, long is the travelling to the bonnie pier o' Leith,
And bleak it was to gang there with the snowdrift in your teeth!
And, aye, the wind blew sharp and strong and the tears froze in my e'e,
When I gaed there to see my love embark for Germany.

I gazed o'er the cruel, cruel sea as long as could be seen,
The wee small sail upon the ship my own true love was in,
And, aye, the wind blew sharp and strong and the the ship sailed speedily,
And waves and cruel wars have twined my bonny boy from me.

Acknowledgements

Transcribed from the singing of Martin Carthy by Garry Gillard.