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The Lass of Richmond Hill

[ Roud 1246 ; Ballad Index WT070 ; Bodleian Roud 1246 ; Wiltshire 615 ; words Leonard McNally (1752-1820)]

The National Youth Folklore Troupe of England played the tune of Lass of Richmond Hill in 2014 on their eponymous WildGoose album National Youth Folklore Troupe of England. They noted:

Lass of Richmond Hill is the tune for a dance of the same name from the modern Raglan morris tradition.

Ruth Notman and Sam Kelly sang Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill in 2019 on their Pure Records album Changeable Heart.

Banter sang The Lass of Richmond Hill in 2024 on their Mrs Casey album Heroes. They noted:

The lyrics to this song were written by Leonard McNally in 1785 about his later wife who lived in Hill House, Richmond in North Yorkshire. Interestingly, McNally was a barrister and a spy who double crossed his United Irishmen by securing convictions at their trials as their defence counsel!

Lyrics

Ruth Notman and Sam Kelly sing Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill

On Richmond Hill there lives a lass
More bright than May Day morn
Whose charms all other maids surpass
A rose without a thorn

This lass so neat, with smile so sweet
Has won my right good will
I’d crowns resign to call thee mine
Sweet lass of Richmond Hill

Banter sing The Lass of Richmond Hill

On Richmond Hill there lives a lass
More bright than May Day morn
Whose charms all other maids surpass
A rose without a thorn

Chorus (after each verse):
This lass so neat, with smile so sweet
Has won my right good will
I’d crowns resign to call thee mine
Sweet lass of Richmond Hill

Sweet lass of Richmond Hill
Sweet lass of Richmond Hill
I’d crowns resign to call thee mine
Sweet lass of Richmond Hill

Ye zephyrs gay that fan the air
And wanton thro’ the grove
Oh whisper to my charming fair
I’d die for her I love

How happy will the shepherd be
Who calls this nymph his own?
Oh, may her choice be fixed on me
Mine’s fix’d on her alone