> Steeleye Span > Songs > Wee Weaver

Wee Weaver

[ Roud 3378 ; Ballad Index RcWeeWea ; trad.]

Paddy Tunny sang The Wee Weaver in 1975 on his Topic album The Mountain Streams Where the Moorcocks Crow and on the 1998 Topic anthology There Is a Man Upon the Farm (The Voice of the People Volume 20).

Steeleye Span sang Wee Weeaver in 1971 on their third album Ten Man Mop or Mr Reservoir Butler Rides Again. A live version recorded during Maddy Prior's 1994 tournee was released on the Park Records sampler Park Taster.

The Ten Man Mop sleeve notes said:

A patchwork fragment ... Paddy be easy, Brigid be calm ... a roll-up, a drink and a conference ... Maddy and a shawl - Silas Marner crouched at work.

Lyrics

Steeleye Span sing Wee Weeaver

I am a wee weaver confined to my loom
My lover she is fair as the red rose in June
She's loved by all young men and that does grieve me
My heart's in the bosom of lovely Mary

As Willie and Mary rode by yon shady bower
Where Willie and Mary spent many a happy hour
Where the thrush and the blackbird do constantly call
The praises of Mary round Locherin's shore

As Willie and Mary rode by yon river side
Said Willie to Mary: “Will you be my bride?”
This couple got married and they'll roam no more
Their pleasures and treasures round Locherin's shore