“As Broad as I was Walking”
Description
The singer sees a pretty maid "lamenting for her love." He courts her "in a rude and rakish way." She bids him stop, "crying out, Young man, for shame." Her lover is gone; she vows that if she can't enjoy him, "I will rejoice in a sweet and single life."
Notes
This really, REALLY reminds me of a Riley/Broken Token ballad. But since the stanza form does not match the more common Riley ballads, and since there is no reunion at the end, I have to classify it on its own.
The title, I imagine, is a corruption of "Abroad as I was Walking." - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "John (George) Riley (I)" [Laws N36] and references there
Broadsides
- Bodleian, Harding B 17(196a), "Modest Maid," J. Pitts (London), 1802-1819; also Johnson Ballads 915[last verse illegible], "Modest Maid"; Harding B 25(1310), "Nancy's Love for her Sailor"
References
- Copper-SoBreeze, pp. 230-231, "As Broad as I was Walking" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Roud #1198
- BI, CoSB230