Blacksmith (song) facts for kids

"Blacksmith", also known as "A Blacksmith Courted Me", is a very old English folk song. It's listed as number 816 in the Roud Folk Song Index, which is a huge list of traditional songs. This song often tells a story about a young woman and a blacksmith.

Discovering Old Songs

How Songs Were Collected

In 1909, a man named Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote down this song. He heard Mrs. Ellen Powell sing it in a place called Westhope, in Herefordshire, England. He wrote down the words and the tune. You can find his notes online at the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library.

Mrs. Powell sang "Blacksmith" to a tune called "Monk's Gate." This tune is also famous for the hymn "To be a pilgrim" by John Bunyan. Another collector, George Butterworth, also found a version of the song in Sussex in 1909. He even included it in his book Folk Songs from Sussex.

Singers of the Past

Many traditional singers from southern England were recorded singing this song. These include travelers like Phoebe Smith and Caroline Hughes. Other singers were Harry Brazil, George "Pop" Maynard, Tom Willett, and Charlie Scamp. These recordings help us remember how the song was sung long ago.

Modern Recordings

Many musicians have recorded "Blacksmith" over the years.

• Steeleye Span included different versions on their albums Hark! The Village Wait (1970) and Please to See the King (1971).
• Andy Irvine sang it on Planxty's first album Planxty (1973).
• Loreena McKennitt recorded it for her album Elemental (1985).
• Pentangle featured it on So Early in the Spring (1989).
• Eddi Reader included it on Mirmama (1992).
• Maddy Prior, also from Steeleye Span, sang an a cappella (without instruments) version on her solo album Year (1993).

Other artists like Martin Simpson, Shirley Collins, and Linda Ronstadt have also recorded their own versions of "Blacksmith."

Song Lyrics

Here are the lyrics collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams from Ellen Powell in 1909. They tell the story of a young woman who loves a blacksmith.

A blacksmith courted me, nine months or better

He bravely won my heart, wrote me a letter

With his hammer in his hand, he looked quite clever

And if I was with my love, I'd live forever

But where is my love gone, with his cheeks like roses

And his good black billycock on, all crowned with primroses

I'm afraid the scorching sun, will shine and burn his beauty

And if I was with my love, I'd do my duty

Strange news has come to town, strange news is carried

Strange news flies up and down, that my love he's married

I wish them both much joy though they can't hear me

And may God reward them well for the slighting of me

Don't you remember well, when you lay beside me

And you said you'd marry me and not deny me

If I said I'd marry you, it was only for to try you

But bring your witness love, and I'll not deny you

Oh witness have I none, save God almighty

And may he reward you well, for the slighting of me

Her lips grew pale and wan, it made her poor heart tremble

To think she loved a one and he proved deceitful