> Norma Waterson > Songs > The Chaps of Cockaigny

The Boys of Kilkenny / The Chaps of Cockaigny

[ Roud 1451 ; Master title: The Boys of Kilkenny ; Ballad Index Ocon044 ; VWML CJS2/9/112A ; Bodleian Roud 1451 ; GlosTrad Roud 1451 ; Wiltshire 77 ; trad.]

Folk Songs Collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams Marrow Bones Vaughan Williams in Norfolk

Norma Waterson sang The Chaps of Cockaigny in 2000 on her third solo album, Bright Shiny Morning on the Topic label. She also sang it on the live at the Union Chapel in 2010, which was released in the following year on her and her daughter Eliza Carthy’s CD and DVD The Gift Band Live on Tour. Norma noted on the original album:

From Cecil Sharp’s manuscript and sung to him by Lucy White in Somerset in 1904 [VWML CJS2/9/112A] . Cockaigny is an old name for England, and is also the name of a mining town, hence: “her eyes are as black as Cockaigny’s black coal.”

See also the related songs Bonny Portmore and Bonnie Udny.

Lyrics

Norma Waterson sings The Chaps of Cockaigny

Oh the chaps of Cockaigny they’re stout roving blades
And when they get in company with sweet pretty maids
They will kiss them aye and court them and swear that they’ll be true
But the very next morning they will go and leave you

Now Cockaigny is a fine town it shines where it stands
And the more I think on it the more my heart burns
And if I was in Cockaigny I’d think myself at home
For there we do get sweethearts but here we get none

For their eyes are as black as Cockaigny’s black coal
Which through my poor bosom has burned a big hole
And they’ll kiss you aye and court you and tell you as many lies
As hairs upon your head my love or the stars in the skies

Now Cockaigny is a fine town it shines where it stands
And the more I think on it the more my heart burns
And if I was in Cockaigny I’d think myself at home
For there we do get sweethearts and here we get none

Acknowledgements

Transcribed by Garry Gillard.