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What Would You Do?

[ Roud 3051 ; Ballad Index OCC191 ; trad.]

Elizabeth Cronin (1879-1956) of Ballymakeera, Co. Cork, sang What Would You Do? on 7 August 1977 to (probably) Alan Lomax. This BBC recording 12614 was included in 1955 on his Columbia anthology World Library of Folk & Primitive Music: Ireland. She also sang it in 1954 to Peter Kennedy; this recording was included in 1995 on the Saydisc anthology Traditional Songs of Ireland.

The Petrels—Jackie Oates accompanied by Belinda O’Hooley—sang What Would You Do? in 2011 on Fresh Handmade Sound: Validation.

Compare to this Mary Delaney’s What Will We Do?.

Lyrics

Elizabeth Cronin sings What Would You Do?

What would you do if you married a soldier?
What would I do but to follow his gun.
And what would you do if he died in the ocean?
What would I do but to marry again.

And what would you do if the kettle boiled over?
What would I do but to full it again.
And what would you do if the cows ate the clover?
What would I do but to seed it again.