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Oxford City / Worcester City / Newport Street / The Cup of Poison / Young Maria

[ Roud 218 ; Master title: Oxford City ; Laws P30 ; G/D 2:210 ; Ballad Index LP30 ; VWML RVW2/3/96 ; Bodleian Roud 218 ; GlosTrad Roud 218 ; Wiltshire 58 , 720 ; trad.]

Mr Harper of King’s Lynn, Norfolk, sang Oxford City to Ralph Vaughan Williams on 13 January 1905 [VWML RVW2/3/96] . The tune was published in the Journal of the Folk-Song Society 2 (1906) p.162. It was printed in Ralph Vaughan Williams and A.L. Lloyd’s The Penguin Book of English Folk Songs, with the song text collated from other sources. The authors noted:

Perhaps this song celebrated a real life tragedy. It often appeared on broadsides in the nineteenth century, published by Catnach and Such, of London, Harkness of Preston, and Jackson of Birmingham. Other versions have been found in oral tradition in Essex (FSJ II (8) 1906 157), Sussex (FSJ II (8) 1906 200), and Dorset (FSJ VII (27) 1923 41), with two further texts from Somerset and Dorset, collected by H.E.D. Hammond (FSJ VII (27) 1923 42-3). Our text is completed from these several versions.

And Malcolm Douglas added in the book’s 2003 revised edition Classic English Folk Songs:

A popular song, still to be found in tradition; also known as Worcester City, Newport Street, Jealousy, and Poison in a Glass of Wine. Further versions appear in JEFDSS 9 (4) 1963 194-5 (Sussex); ED&S 29 (2) 1967 (Devon); KFBI 715; HGG 36 and 53 (Bedfordshire and Shropshire); PBB 172 (Staffordshire); PCL 46-7 (Hampshire); SMFL 28-9, and SLM 59 (Sussex).

Only Mr Harper’s tune was published in the Journal. The text here has been reshaped by the editors, using mainly material from FSJ VII (Although My Name It Is Maria: Mrs Gulliver, Combe Florey, Somerset, 1905, and In Midfordshire: Mr Slade, Dorchester, Dorset, 1905), with a little added from FSJ II ( Oxford City: Mrs Verrall, Horsham, Sussex, 1904).

The broadside editions referred to can be seen, with others, at the Bodleian collection. Oxford City: Johnson Ballads 245 (Catnach); Harding B 11(161) (Such); Harding B 11(2900A) (Harkness), and Firth b.34(220) (Jackson); and The Newport Street Damsel: Harding B 25(1344).

Joseph Taylor sang Worcester City in 1908 to Percy Grainger. This wax cylinder recording was published in 1972 on the LP Unto Brigg Fair. It was also included in 1998 on the Topic anthology O’er His Grave the Grass Grew Green (The Voice of the People Volume 3). The original album’s sleeve notes commented:

This song is most commonly known by the alternative titles, Oxford City - The Cup of Poison or Jealousy though it appears on many broadsides under the title of In — Town, a device to allow for localisation. For other variants see HGG, SLM, VWLP, GNE, REC, GCSM and the following broadsides: P, C, H, F, Bi Fo, WM, HP, PB, JB etc. Sound recordings: BBC 18581 BBC 22738, C-le 1, FTA 102, TC 1163, 12T138, 12T195.

Mary Doran of Waterford, Co. Waterford, sang Oxford City on 24 July 1952 to Peter Kennedy and Sean O’Boyle. This BBC archive recording 18581 was published on the anthology Fair Game and Foul (The Folk Songs of Britain Volume 7; Caedmon 1961; Topic 1970). The original album’s booklet [adding some verses omitted on the album] noted:

Another ballad of the jealous lover who murdered his sweetheart, this song turns up in both Great Britain and America. It is probably of broadside origin.

Gavin Greig, Folk-Song of the North-East, CXXXVII, In Oxford Town, also American Folk Songs, A. Lomax, to be published, 1966.

Emily Sparkes sang a fragment of The Jealous Lover to John Howson in Rattlesden in 1958/59. This recording was included in 1993 on the Veteran cassettes and in 2009 on the Veteran CD Many a Good Horseman.

George ‘Pop’ Maynard sang Oxford City at The Plough, Three Bridges on 10 February 1960. This recording made by Brian Matthews was included in 2000 on his Musical Traditions anthology Down the Cherry Tree, and in 2001 on the Musical Traditions anthology of songs from Sussex country pubs in the 1960s, Just Another Saturday Night.

Louie Saunders of Lingfield, Surrey, sang this song as Young Maria on 27 May 1960 at the Abergavenny Arms in Copthorne. Brian Matthews’ recording was included, as Pop Maynard’s version listed in the previous paragraph, in 2001 on his Musical Traditions anthology Just Another Saturday Night. Louise Saunders’ husband died in the early seventies and she remarried—to his best friend—so that it was as Louie Fuller that she was recorded by Mike Yates in probably 1975 singing Young Maria again. This recording was included in 1976 on the Topic album of country singers from South England, Green Grow the Laurels, and in 1998 on the Topic anthology They Ordered Their Pints of Beer and Bottles of Sherry (The Voice of the People Series Volume 13).

Queen Caroline Hughes sang The Jealous Lover to Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger in 1963 or 1966. This recording was included in 2014 on her Musical Traditions anthology, Sheep-Crook and Black Dog. Celia Warren sang this as Jealousy Thoughts to Peter Kennedy in Caroline Hughes’ caravan near Blandford, Dorset, on 19 April 1968. This recording was included in 2012 on the Topic anthology of songs by Southern English gypsy traditional singers, I’m a Romany Rai (The Voice of the People Volume 22).

Chris Marsom frm Bedfordshire sang The Poisoned Cup in Fred Hamer’s 1967 EFDS book of English folk songs collected by him, Garners Gay. Hamer noted:

Chris Marsom emigrated to Denver, Colorado many years ago and I met him on a visit to his native village, Northiil, a year or two before he died and he recorded several songs for me. The Poisoned Cup is a later and rather more sophisticated version of May Bradley’s Down the Green Groves.

Jack Smith sang Jealousy on 5 November 1969 at the King’s Head folk club. This recording was included in 2012 on the Musical Traditions club anthology, King’s Head Folk Club.

Freda Palmer from Leafield, near Whitney in Oxfordshire, sang Oxford City in 1973 to Mike Yates. This recording was included in 1975 on the Topic album of countryside songs from Southern England, When Sheepshearing’s Done, and in 2001 on the Musical Traditions anthology of songs from the Mike Yates collection, Up in the North and Down in the South. This version was also printed in 2012 in Steve Roud’s The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs. Mike Yates and Rod Stradling noted in the MT booklet:

Versions of this song turn up all over the place. Harry Upton, for example, called his version Near Arundel Town, and, like Mrs Palmer, believed it to be a true story. At the beginning of the 20^th century, Vaughan Williams found another singer using Mrs Palmer’s tune for the song A Bold Young Farmer and he later incorporated this tune into his ballet for orchestra Old King Cole.

There are 105 entries in Roud and, more to the point, it’s a song which has remained in the country repertoire right up to the present time, particularly amongst Gypsies and Travellers. It has numerous titles in addition to the ones mentioned above, including Down the Green Groves and Poison in a Glass of Wine, but whatever it may be called by the singer, the song would appear to stem from a broadside issued by John Pitts of London in the early 1800s.

Most versions are from England, but there are also four from Ireland, eight from Scotland, six from the USA, one from Canada, and one from Tristan da Cunha noted. Twenty sound recordings are known, but Sheila Stewart’s Oxford Tragedy, Joseph Taylor’s Worcester City and Louie Saunders’ Young Maria (MTCD309-10 and a different version on TSCD666) the only other ones available on CD.

Peta Webb sang Oxford City in 1973 on her Topic album I Have Wandered in Exile. She and Ken Hall also sang it as Poison in a Glass of Wine on their 2000 Fellside CD, As Close As Can Be. Reg Hall or A.L. Lloyd noted:

A best-seller from the early nineteenth century broadside house of James Catnach, subsequently widely copied by their London and provincial rivals. The song, particularly favoured in the English southern counties, came to enjoy lively currency in Scotland as far as Aberdeen, and through the length and breadth of Ireland. All versions of this melodrama agree closely as to plot, though singers have variously described the jealous lover as a sailor, a ploughboy, a serving man. American versions say he poisoned his sweetheart with ‘burglar’s wine’. The tune is best known as a vehicle for the ballad of Lord Bateman.

Harry Upton sang Poison in a Glass of Wine to Mike Yates in 1972-1975. Thus recording was published in 1975 on the Topic anthology of traditional songs from Sussex, Sussex Harvest.

Chris Foster sang Worcester City in 1977 on his Topic album Layers.

Nic Jones sang another version of this song called Newport Street on his 1978 album From the Devil to a Stranger. He gives the Journals of the Folk Song Society as his source.

Danny Brazil sang Poison in a Glass of Wine to Gwilym Davies in Staverton, Gloucestershire, on 14 April 1995. This recording was included in 2007 on the Musical Traditions anthology of the Brazil Family, Down By the Old Riverside.

Sheila Stewart sang this ballad as The Oxford Tragedy in a recording made by Doc Rowe in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, on 15 October 1998. It was included in 2000 on her Topic CD From the Heart of the Tradition. The liner notes commented:

A song from Sheila’s father’s sister, Bella Higgins of Blairgowrie; although her version (which is held in the School of Scottish Studies) began: “In Belfast City”. In broadside form the song was widespread and is known variously as The Poisoned Cup, Poison in a Glass of Wine, Oxford Town and Jealousy. The Jealous Lover was the title given to the song by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger when they recorded it from Sheila in the 1970’s. Gavin Greig collected numerous versions and although the text remains reasonably uniform in all versions, the actual jealous lover varies. He may be a sailor, a ploughman or a servant who falls in love with the daughter of the household. Many versions end with a specific gender warning “beware of jealous men”.

Eliza Carthy learned Worcester City from the singing of Joseph Taylor and recorded it for her 2002 CD Anglicana. She noted:

I first heard Joseph Taylor when my Dad played me Creeping Jane, another of his songs. He was the first traditional singer to have a commercial release after Percy Grainger recorded him and put out Brigg Fair on a wax cylinder. I always loved his voice and style, singing to me from 1908; don’t ever let anyone tell you that traditional singers know nothing about music or performance! In the story I think that if I was her I’d have clocked him and tried to get back to his house and the antidote, rather than giving him the satisfaction of dying in his arms… might not have been as good a story, but Steven Spielberg might have been with me.

Eliza Carthy’s band-mate Tim van Eyken recorded Worcester City in 2006 for his solo CD Stiffs Lovers Holymen Thieves.

Jon Boden, who accompanied Eliza on melodeon on her recording of Worcester City, sang this song as the 4 March 2011 entry of his project A Folk Song a Day. He reminisced in the blog:

Probably one of the most exciting phone calls I’ve ever had was from John Spiers saying that Eliza Carthy had been in touch and was asking if we’d like to play on her new album. This was one of three tracks we played on, and we ended up playing it quite a lot after joining her band, although we actually knew it already from Graham Metcalfe’s rather magnificent pub version.

This video shows Eliza Carthy singing Worcester City at Spiers & Boden’s 10^th Birthday Party on 11 May 2011:

Jim Causley sang Oxford City in 2007 on his WildGoose CD Lost Love Found. He noted:

I learnt this song from the singing of Freda Palmer from Leafield, near Whitney in Oxfordshire. More commonly known as Worcester City or the plot-giveaway title Poison in a Glass of Wine. This song is an early precursor to warning posters in nightclubs for drink-spiking. I think if I’d chosen the title I would have gone for Don’t Go Out With a Psycho!

Hazel Askew sang Down in Fleet Street in 2009 on the Askew Sisters’ and Craig; Morgan; Robson’s album of traditional English songs collected by George Gardiner in 1907 from five woman singers in Axford, Hampshire, The Axford Five. This song was originally sung by Marty Munday.

Tim Radford sang Jealousy in 2009 on his Forest Tracks album of songs collected by George B. Gardiner in 1906-07 from the Hampshire gardener George Blake (1829-1916), George Blake’s Legacy. He noted:

Gardiner mss. 340 from notebook no. 12 page 91 collected in November 1907 in Southampton (actually, Bitterne Park). It appears in Roud as no. 218 and also Laws P30.

The song is more generally known as Oxford City or A Cup of Poison and according to the manuscript Blake’s title was Oxford City. There is a version in Purslow’s Constant Lovers page 46 with the title of Jealousy that is an augmented version using Blake’s four verses and five other verses collected by Gardiner from Henry Lee of Whitchurch—H353.

This is my first departure from a Blake text as it appears in the manuscripts—preferring to perform the augmented and published version of Jealousy simply because it is a complete version. Blake’s only words are those in verses 6 through 9, which on their own make little sense; as Blake’s tune is preferred, I decided to use the cobbled together text.

It should be noted that the song was collected from him later than most, in November 1907, and when he seemed less able to remember complete songs. In fact on this recording only two songs are used from that period of his life. (Also see the song The Rocks of Scilly [on the same album]). He may have known a fuller version of Oxford Town earlier in his life, but that is purely speculation on my part.

The story of this song is very well known and exists across Great Britain and North America. Please also refer the notes for the song Maria [on the same album].

Andy Turner learned Worcester City from Unto Brigg Fair. and sang it as the 7 October 2013 entry of his project A Folk Song a Week.

The Dovetail Trio sang Poison in a Glass of Wine in 2015 on their CD Wing of Evening. Rosie Hood noted:

Collected by Alfred Williams from Mrs Williams of Crudwell, Wiltshire, in 1916 as Around the Grove As I Was Waking. I found this version through the Wiltshire Community History Folk Song website. A particularly unlucky girl finds herself the centre of the obsession of a jealous young man; the title says it all really.

This video shows the Dovetail Trio at Wath Festival in May 2014:

Sophie Crawford sang Poison Cup on her 2020 album People I Have Known. She noted:

This is a traditional folk song I first heard in the basement of Cecil Sharp [House] at their singaround. I added the chorus and changed the tune but the story is the same.

Frankie Archer got Oxford City from the Penguin Book of English Folk Songs and sang it on her 2023 EP Never So Red. The track was also released in September 2023 as a download single. She noted:

Oxford City is a traditional song nearly 200 years old, but when I first read the lyrics I was reminded of things happening right now: incel culture and drink spiking. It’s tempting to think about old songs of times gone by, especially of songs dealing with the way women were treated and the awful things they faced, and say “wasn’t it awful back in the day, I’m so glad it’s not like that now”. While some things generally have gotten better, women still face male violence just sometimes in different forms. The poison wine in this song is a man spiking a woman’s drink to do her harm. Murdering her is an expression of rejection and jealousy which manifests as the same hate against women that incel culture feeds on “if you won’t be my true lover, you’ll never be no other man’s bride”.

Although it doesn’t feel like it in the song, the time signature is changing all the time. It feels like it reflects the two steps forward and one step back nature of the fight for equality. We are improving some things and still so far behind on others.

Frankie Archer also sang Oxford City on Later… With Jools Holland on 21 October 2023:

Lyrics

Oxford City in The Penguin Book of English Folk Songs

In Oxford City lived a lady,
And she was beautiful and fair.
Oh, she was courted by a sailor,
And he did love her as his dear.

He said: “My dear, let us get married,
Let us now no longer stay.
I’ll work for you both late and early
If you my wedded bride will be.”

This girl she loved him, but at a distance,
She did not seem to be quite so fond.
He said: “My dear, you seem to slight me.
I’m sure you love some other man.”

He saw her dancing with some other.
A jealous thought came to his mind;
And to destroy his own true lover,
He gave to her a glass of wine.

So soon she drank it, so soon she felt it.
“Oh, hold me fast, my dear,” said she.
“Is it that glass of wine you gave me
That takes my innocent life away?”

“That glass of wine now which I gave you,
That glass of wine did strong poison hide,
For if you won’t be my true lover,
You’ll never be no other man’s bride.

“That glass of wine now which I gave you,
Oh, I have drinked of the same,” said he.
“So in each other’s arms we’ll die together,
To warn young men of jealousy.”

“Oh hark, oh hark, the cocks are crowing.
The daylight now will soon appear,
And into my cold grave I’m going,
And it’s you, Willie, has called me there.”

Joseph Taylor sings Worcester City

In Worcester City there lived a damsel
Now the truth to you I’ll tell;
She by her servantman was courted,
Who ofttimes told her he loved her well.

She loved him too, but at a distance;
He did not seem to be very fond.
“Now for your fondness and unconstant fairness
I soon will end your sweet tender life.”

Then a short time after, this fair young damsel,
Was invited to a ball you know.
This wicked young man he followed after
And soon prepared for her overthrow.

As she was dancing all with another
Jealousy it filled his mind;
Then to destroy his own true lover
This wicked young man he was inclined.

Then quickly he prepared some poison,
And mixed it with a glass of wine,
And gave it to his own true lover -
She drank it with a most fearful mind.

A little after this fair young damsel,
“Now take me home, my dear,” said she
“For the liquor that you have lately gave me
It makes me very ill indeed.”

As they was walking along together,
He then unto her did say,
“I gave you poison in your liquor,
All for to take your sweet life away.

“And I have drunk of the same, my jewel,
I soon shall die as well as thee.”
So in each other’s arms they di-ed;
Young men beware of jealousy.

Mary Doran sings Oxford City

In Oxford City, there dwelt a fair maid –
The truth to you, love, I now must tell –
She being strongly courted by a handsome young man
And he oft-times told her he loved her well.

[ He loved her dearly, all at a distance.
He oft-times told her not be so fond.
And he oft-times told her that he would not leave her,
Whilst walking down by a shady strand. ]

To a dance-house we were invited
And to a dance-house we both did go,
When another young man soon followed after
For to prove this young girl’s overthrow.

If she danced all with this young man,
Jealousy soon filled his wicked mind –
You destroyed the life of a charming young girl
And for that young man she being inclined.

He went outside, he prepared a poison,
He mixed it up with a glass of wine,
And he gave it unto his own true-lover
And she drank it up with a willing’ smile.

[ She had not long this liquor taken
Saying: “Take me home, my true-love,” cried she,
“O the glass of wine you have lately gave me,
It has made me feel ill quite inwardly.” ]

[ “All the same, love, you drank, my darling,
All the same, love, as well as thee;
In each other’s arms we’ll die together,
Be aware, fair maids, of cruel jealousy.” ]

Louie Fuller sings Young Maria

On yonder hill stood young Maria.
Her jealous young lover stood by her side.
When he asked her for to marry,
“Oh no, my true love, too young,” she cried.

Now, Maria was invited to a fancy dress ball.
That jealous young lover followed behind.
He saw her a-dancing with some other,
Then jealousy must have entered his mind.

Now, how to destroy his own true-love one
When jealousy it did enter his mind;
How he destroyed his own true-love one,
He gave her a glass of cold poison wine.

Now quickly she drank and quickly she altered,
“Pick me up my true-love,” cried she,
“That glass of wine that you’ve just gave me
Has made me as ill, as ill can be.”

“Now I will drink one of the same, love,
And make myself as ill as thee;
In each others arms we will die together,
And put an end to all jealousy.”

Chris Marsom from Bedfordshire sings The Poisoned Cup

I knew a lass, I knew a lady,
And she was fair as fair could be,
And she went dancing with her lover,
Young men beware ofjealousy.

He saw her dancing with another,
And jealousy did cross his mind,
And to destroy his sweet young lover,
He handed her a glass of wine.

Some few hours later she did alter,
She cried, “Young man pray take me home,
That glass of wine you gave me earlier,
Has made me ill as ill could be.”

And as they both went home together,
He told her all that he had done,
“I gave you poison in that liquor,
To take your precious life away.

“And I myself did take another,
That I might die as well as thee,
In each other’s arms they died together,
Young men beware of jealousy.”

Freda Palmer sings Oxford City

It was of a girl in Oxford City,
The truth I now will tell to you.
All by a young man this maid was courting,
And he loved her as his life he gave.

She loved him too, but t’was at a distance,
She did not seem to be so fond.
He said, “My dear one, why can’t we marry?
And then at once it would end all strife.”

“Oh no, I am too young to marry,
Too young to incline on a marriage bed.
For when we are married then we are bound for ever,
And then at once all our joys are fled.”

As she was dancing with some other,
This jealousy came to his mind.
All for to destroy his own true loved one,
This wicked young man he was inclined.

Some poison strong, which he had conceal-ed,
He mixed it in a glass of wine.
Then he gave it unto his own true-loved one,
And she drank it up most cheerfully.

But in a very few minutes after,
“Oh, take me home, my dear”, said she,
“For the glass of liquor you lately gave me,
It makes me feel very ill indeed.”

“Oh, I’ve been drinking the same before you,
And I’ve been taken as ill as you.
So in each others arms we will die together,
Young men be aware of such jealousy.”

Nic Jones sings Newport Street

In Newport Street it was reported:
A comely woman there did dwell,
And by a serving man was courted
Who loved this lady exceeding well.

He says, “My dear, let us get married!
Oh dearest love, don’t you dislike me;
I’ll work for you both late and early
If you my wedded wife will be.”

She says, “Kind sir, let us consider,
We are both yet too young to wed.
When we are married we’re bound together;
Let us live single for another year.”

But then he saw her dancing with some other,
A jealous thought ran into his mind.
For to destroy his own true lover
He gave her poison in a glass of wine.

She drank the wine and then she halted,
“Oh dearest love, oh and pray take me.
That glass of wine you just now gave me
Makes me as sick as I can be.”

As they were walking home together
These very words he told to her:
“That glass of wine I just now gave you
It will soon take your sweet life away.”

Eliza Carthy sings Worcester City

In Worcester City there lived a damsel
And now the truth to you I’ll tell;
She by her servantman was courted,
Who often told her he loved her well.

She loved him true, but at a distance;
He did not think to be very fond.
“Now for your convicts and inconstant lovers
I pray you’ll end your sweet tender love.”

By a young master, this fair young damsel
Was invited to a ball, you know.
This wicked young man he followed after
And soon prepared for her overthrow.

As she was dancing all with another
Jealousy it filled his mind;
Then to destroy his own true lover
This wicked young man he was inclined.

Oh, quickly he prepared some poison,
He mixed it with a glass of wine,
And gave it to his own true lover;
She drank it with a most fearful mind.

A little after this fair young damsel,
“Now take me home, my dear,” said she
“For the liquor that you have lately gave me
Has made me very ill indeed.”

As they was walking along together,
He then unto her did say,
“I gave you poison all in your liquor,
All for to take your sweet life away.”

“And I have drunk of the same, my jewel,
I hope to die as well as thee.”
So in each other’s arms they died;
And young men, beware of jealousy.

Tim Radford sings Jealousy

In Reading town it was reported,
A fair young damsel there did dwell.
She by her servant man was courted
Who loved her most exceeding well.

She loved him well, but at a distance,
She didn’t seem so very fond.
He says, “My dear you have me slighted,
I think you love some other man.

“Or else my dear why don’t we marry
And then together end all strife
I’ll work for you both late and early
If you will be my loving wife.”

“My dear you are too young to marry,
Too young to enjoy a marriage bed.
Besides my dear when once we’re married
Then all our joy and pleasure’s fled.”

’Twas near at hand was a ball of dancing,
This fair young damsel there did go.
But soon her true lover followed after
All for to prove her overthrow.

He saw her dancing with some other,
Oh, jealousy run in his mind,
For to destroy his own true lover,
He gave her poison in a glass of wine.

She took it kind, but soon did alter,
“Oh take me home my dear,” said she
“That glass of wine which you just gave me,
Made me so ill as ill can be.”

As they were a walking along together
He unto his true love did say,
“That was a glass of poison I gave you
And it soon will take your sweet life away.

“And I just after took another,
Oh, what a silly fool was I!”
In each other’s arms they died together
So all young men don’t jealous be.

The Dovetail Trio sing Poison in a Glass of Wine

Around the grove as I was walking,
And in the fields, where all was green,
’Twas there I spied two damsels talking,
Which made the small birds whistle and sing.

He said, “My dear, shall I enjoin you?
And for ever I will prove true.
I hope a raging will destroy me,
If ever I should prove false to you.”

“Although my name it is Maria,
I am a girl of high degree;
He courted me both late and early,
Until he had his will of me.”

Although this fair and lovely creature,
She was invited to a ball,
Her jealous young man soon came after,
It was to prove her overthrow.

He caught her dancing with another,
When jealousy fulfilled his mind;
And to destroy his own true lover,
This jealous young man he felt inclined.

A dose of poison he provided,
Mixed it all with a glass of wine;
He gave it to his own true lover,
She drank it up with a cheerful mind.

And when she had no sooner drunk it,
“Pray take me home, my dear,” said she;
“The glass of liquor you just gave to me,
Has made me ill as ill can be.”

As they were walking home together
This wicked young man unto her did say;
“I gave you poison all in your liquor
To take your tender life away.”

“But I have drunk the same, my dearest,
I am as ill, as ill as thee.”
All in each other’s arms they died,
Young girls be aware of jealousy.

Frankie Archer sings Oxford City

In Oxford City lived a lady
And she was beautiful and fair,
And she was courted by a sailor
And he did love her as his dear.

He said, “My dear, let us get married,
Let us now no longer stay.
I’ll work for you both late and early
if you my wedded bride will be.”

This girl she loved him, but at a distance,
She did not seem to be quite so fond.
He said, “My dear, you seem to slight me,
I’m sure you love some other man.”

He saw her dancing with some other.
A jealous thought came to his mind;
And to destroy his own true lover
He gave to her a glass of wine.

So soon she drank it, so soon she felt it,
“Oh, hold me fast, my dear,” said she,
“Is it that glass of wine you gave me
That takes my innocent life away?”

“That glass of wine now which I gave you,
That glass of wine did poison hide.
For if you won’t be my true lover
You’ll never be no other man’s bride.”

“That glass of wine now which I gave you,
Oh I have drinked of the same,” said he,
“So in each other’s arms we’ll die now,
To warn young men of jealousy.”

“Oh hark, oh hark, the cocks are crowing,
The daylight now will soon appear,
And in my cold cold grave I am going
And it’s you, Willie, has called me there.”

Acknowledgements

Transcribed from the singing of Eliza Carthy by Reinhard Zierke based on Joseph Taylor’s version as transcribed by Garry Gillard.