“Campbell's Mill”
Description
The singer wanders out and sees a pretty girl. He goes up to her and courts her. She refuses to give her name, and asks why he is talking to her. He offers to marry her and take her away from the mill. She refuses; she has a love and is no match for him
Notes
Leyden: In 1830, Campbell's Mill "was the last building on the town side of Belfast and beyond was open countryside ...; it finally ceased trading as the Irish Flax Spinning Co Ltd in about 1920."
In Leyden's version, taken from SHenry H762, the maid "works in Campbell's Mill." Leyden comments that "It makes a welcome change in a traditional song that not only does the girl rebuff the advances of this 'fine well looking gentleman' for her lover's sake, but also because she has the security of a trade." - BS
References
- SHenry H762, p. 368, "Campbell's Mill" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Leyden 10, "Campbell's Mill" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Roud #6884
- BI, HHH762