> Tim Hart & Maddy Prior > Songs > Lish Young Buy-a-Broom

Lish Young Buy-a-Broom

This song was collected and collated by Geoff Wood. Tim Hart and Maddy Prior on chorus recorded it (with an interesting banjo accompaniment by Tim Hart) for their first duo album Folk Songs of Old England Vol. 1. The record's sleeve notes comment:

This Cumberland sung is an amalgamation of three versions collected by Geoff Woods of Leeds between 1945-1967. It is believed to have been written by Willian Graham, “the Cumberland poacher”. The word “lish” is Cumberland dialect for active or brisk, and “buy-a-broom” is a tinker.

Lyrics

Tim Hart & Maddy Prior sing Lish Young Buy-a-Broom

As I was a-travelling in the North Country
Down by Kirby Stephen I happened for to be
As I was a-walking up and down the street
A pretty little buy-a-broom I chanced for to meet

Chorus (after each verse):: And she was right, I was tight
Everybody has her way
It was the lish young buy-a-broom
That led me astray

She kindly then invited me to go along the way
“Yes” was the answer to her that I did say
There was me with my music walking down the street
And her with her tambourine was beating hands and feet

Straightway for Kendal we steered, her and I
Over yon white mountain, the weather it was grey
We each had a bottle filled up to the top
And whenever we were feeling dry, we took a little drop

With night a-coming on, good lodgings we did find
Eatables of all sorts and plenty of good wine
Good bed and blankets just for we two
And I rolled her in his arms, my boys, and wouldn't you do, to?

Then early the next morning we rose to go away
I called to the landlord to see what was to pay
Fourteen and sixpence, just for you two
And a fiver on the table oh my darling then she threw

Now the reason that we parted, I now will let you hear
She started off for Germany right early the next year
And me not being willing to cross the raging sea
Here's a health to my buy-a-broom, wherever she may be