NEXT MARKET DAY, THE
(Irish - Traditional)
John McCormack - 1920
Lori Holland - 1960
Maureen O'Hara - 1961
Also recorded by:
Fiona Blackburn; Alison Pearce; John McDaid; Jim McCann;
Ann Murray; Aleanna ........ and others.
As recorded by JOHN McCORMACK:
A maid goin' to Comber, her markets to learn
To sell for her Mammy three hanks of fine yarn
She met with a young man along the highway
Which caused this young maiden to dally and stray
Sit ye beside me, I mean ye no harm
Sit ye beside me, this new tune to learn
Here is three guineas, your Mammy to pay
So, lay by your yarn till the next market day
They sat down together, the grass it was green
And the day was the finest that ever was seen
Oh, the light in your eyes beats a mornin' in May
I could sit by your side till the next market day
The young maid went home and the words that he said
And the tune that he played her still rang in her head
She says I'll go find him by night or by day
Till he learns me the tune called "The Next Market Day"
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LONGER ALTERNATE VERSION (1):
Now this maid went to Comber, her markets to l'arn
To sell for her Mammy three hanks of fine yarn
When she met with a young man upon the highway
Which caused this young damsel to dally and stray
Oh, sit down beside me, I'll do ye no harm
Sit down beside me, this new tune to l'arn
And I'll give you three guineas, your mother to pay
And I'll teach you a tune called "The Next Market Day"
Oh, says she, I have tunes and enough for to do
And my Mammy has warned me 'gainst strangers like you
My Mammy has warned me, and her I must heed
And besides I've my markets to make with all speed
Oh, your markets can wait, and the day it is young
And the tune I will teach you is easily sung
'Tis you are the coaxer, one moment I'll stay
I'm longing to learn it "The Next Market Day"
So they sat down together, the grass it was green
And the day was the fairest that ever was seen
The look in your eyes would lead angels astray
I could sit by your side till the next market day
Kind sir this new tune that ye'd larn me to play
Might draw some attention beside this highway
In yonder meadow there's plenty of hay
Which may not be there on the next market day
They rowed in the mow till his bow was well strung
Then he played a fine tune on her rub-a-dum-dum
And the tune that he l'arned her was easy to play
She resolved to play it again on the next market day
Now this young maid went home and her cheeks they were red
And the tune that he played her still rang in her head
When her Mother asked questions, this is all she would say
There was never a tune like "The Next Market Day"
********************
ALTERNATE VERSION (2)
A maid going to Comber, her markets to l'arn
And to sell for her Mammy three hanks of fine yarn
She met with a young man along the highway
Which caused this young damsel to dally and stray
Oh, sit down beside me, I mean you no harm
Come sit down beside me this new tune to l'arn
And here is three guineas your Mammy to pay
So lay by your yarn till the next market day
She sat down beside him, the grass it was green
The day was the fairest that ever was seen
The look in your eye beats a morning in May
I could sit by your side till the next market day
So they sat down together and the valleys did ring
And the birds in the bushes so sweetly did sing
He took out his fiddle and well he could play
And he played her the tune called "The Next Market Day"
So this sweet bonny lass she did laugh and did say
I love that wee tune called "The Next Market Day"
"The Next Market Day" is a great tune, ‘tis plain
So play that tune over again and again and again and again
Now, as she went homeward, the words he had said
And the tune that he played her still rang in her head
I’ll search for that young man by land or by sae
Till he larns me the tune called "The Next Market Day"
So she went back to Comber and searched for him long
And she found this young man and it’s well they got on
And now they are married in sweet Killyleagh
And he plays her the tune called "The Next Market Day"
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - January 2016)
