BUNCH OF THYME, A
(Irish - Traditional 17th Century)


Foster & Allen - 1981
Paddy Reilly - 1983



Come all you maidens young and fair
All you that are blooming in your prime
Always beware and keep your garden fair
Let no man steal away your thyme

For thyme it is a precious thing
And thyme brings all things to my mind
Thyme with all its labours, along with all its joys
Thyme brings all things to my mind

Once she had a bunch of thyme
And thought it never would decay
Then came a lusty sailor who chanced to pass that way
He stole her bunch of thyme away

The sailor gave to her a rose
A rose that never would decay
He gave it to her for to keep her reminded
Of when he stole her thyme away

So, come all you maidens young and fair
All you that are blooming in your prime
Always beware and keep your garden fair
Let no man steal away your thyme

For thyme it is a precious thing
And thyme brings all things to my mind
Thyme with all its labours, along with all its joys
And thyme brings all things to an end



(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - February 2017)