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Long Looked For, Come at Last

[ Roud 1643 ; Ballad Index ReCi038 ; VWML GG/1/10/618 ; GlosTrad Roud 1643 ; Wiltshire 72 ; trad.]

Frank Purslow: The Wanton Seed James Reeves: The Everlasting Circle

Tim Radford sang Long Looked For, Come at Last in 1974 on the Forest Tracks album Folk Songs From Hampshire of songs collected in 1905-09 by Dr. George B. Gardiner. John Edgar Mann noted:

In his presentation of this delightful piece in The Wanton Seed, Purslow has augmented the text of William Winter, of Andover (July 1906) [VWML GG/1/10/618] , with that of a Gloucestershire version. At the time of writing Tim was thinking of naming his newly acquired house “Long Looked For, Come at Last”! Lovely title.

Martin Young sang Long Looked For, Come at Last on his 2001 album Botany Bay.

Andy Turner sang Long Looked For, Come at Last as the 9 April 2016 entry of his project A Folk Song a Week.

Lyrics

Tim Radford sings Long Looked For, Come at Last

Abroad as I was walking down by a river side
I heard two lovers talking, the damsel she replied:
“How could you be so cruel, how could you serve me so!
You promised you would marry me about two months ago.”

“My dear, I was prevented and could not come till now,
So rest yourself contented, I never will break my vow.
If I’d all the gold and silver that lies beyond the sea
I’d take more joy and pleasure in your sweet company.”

“What maiden can believe you? You’ve said so much before.
The last time that I saw you, you said you’d come no more.
You went and courted Nancy, the girl with a rolling eye;
It’s she alone you fancy, you cannot this deny.”

“I hear to what you say, my love, I own and swear ’tis true;
I went and courted Nancy, but now I’m come to you.
Why should it breed a faction betwixt my love and I?
It’s you alone I fancy, with you I’ll live and die.”

These words they revived her and struck her to the heart,
And we will have the wedding before that we do part.
The weather being pleasant, to church this couple passed,
And now they are got married, long looked for, come at last.

Andy Turner sings Long Looked For, Come at Last

Abroad as I was walking down by a riverside,
I heard two lovers talking; the young girl she replied:
“How could you be so cruel, how could you serve me so?
You promised you would marry me about twelve months ago.”

“My dear, I was prevented, and could not come till now,
So rest yourself contented, I ne’er shall break my vow.
If I’d all the gold and silver that lies beyond the sea,
I’d take more joy and pleasure in your sweet company.”

“What maiden can believe you? You’ve said so much before.
Oh, the last time that I saw you, you said you’d come no more.
You went and courted Nancy, oh, the girl with the roving eye;
’Tis she I know you fancy, you cannot this deny.”

“I hew to what you say, my dear, I own and swear it is true;
I went and courted Nancy, but now I’ve come to you.
Why should it breed a faction between my love and I?
’Tis you I’ll own I fancy, with you I’ll live and die.”

These words they did revive her and pierced her to the heart,
Saying, We will have a wedding today before we part.
The weather being cheerful, to church this couple passed,
And now they are got married: Long looked-for come at last.