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Gone to America

Steeleye Span: Gone to America (Chrysalis CHS 2503)

Gone to America / Let Her Go Down
Steeleye Span

Chrysalis CHS 2503 (single, p/s, UK, March 1981)

[Peter Knight]

Gone to America is a song from Steeleye Span’s 1980 reunion album Sails of Silver that was also released as a single with the B-side Let Her Go Down. A live recording from the Royal Opera Theatre in Adelaide, Australia in 1982 was released on the rare Australia-only LP On Tour and in 2001 on the CD Gone to Australia.

Kadril sang Gone to America on their 2005 album of emigration songs, De Andere Kust.

Lyrics

Steeleye Span sing Gone to America

Married him in April, lost him in July
Listen to my story and I’ll tell you why
They said that he’d been poaching and stealing wine
They said I wouldn’t see him for a long long time

Chorus:
They said he’s gone to America
To work the land that some called Virginia
They said he’s gone to America

Married him in April, lost him in July
They took him as their prisoner then told me why
They said they had sent him where poachers go
I asked if I could see him but they said no

They said he’s gone to America
To work the land that some called Virginia
They said he’s gone to America
Married him in April, lost him in July

Married him in April, lost him in July
Cursed the men who took him, cursed their wicked lies
The night they saw him poaching and stealing wine
Was the night he took comfort in these arms of mine

But now he’s gone to America
To work the land that some called Virginia
They said he’s gone to America
Married him in April, lost him in July