“The Gowans are Gay”

Description

The singer walks out in May and meets a "proper lass." He asks what she is doing; she replies, "Gathering the dew; what need you ask?" He asks her to marry; she says it is not her task to give him her maidenhead. He returns home wondering who she was

Notes

I suspect that this is a reversal of one of the "Thyme" songs (probably a "Garners Gay" version of "Thyme (It Is a Precious Thing)"). There are many similarities. But even if it is such, the changes are enough that we have to list it as a separate song. - RBW

Cross references

• cf. "The Seeds of Love"
• cf. "Thyme, It Is a Precious Thing"
• cf. "In My Garden Grew Plenty of Thyme"

References

1. Combs/Wilgus 140, pp. 142-143, "The Gowans are Gay" (1 text)
2. Roud #4295
3. BI, CW142