“She's Like the Swallow”

Description

"She's like a swallow that flies so high, She's like a river that never runs dry, She's like the sunshine on the lee shore, I love my love and love is no more." A lament for a lost girl: "She laid her down, no word she spoke, until [her] heart was broke"

Notes

Fowke observes, "The lines suggest an English origin, and probably they formed part of a longer song [perhaps similar to "The Butcher Boy"?], but the years have polished the fragment that survives until it approaches perfection." - RBW

Recordings

• Anita Best and Pamela Morgan, "She's Like the Swallow" (on NFABestPMorgan01)
• Omar Blondahl, "She's Like the Swallow" (on NFOBlondahl05)

References

1. Peacock, pp. 711-714, "She's Like the Swallow" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
2. Fowke/Johnston, pp. 140-141, "She's Like the Swallow" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. Fowke/MacMillan 63, "She's Like the Swallow" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. Karpeles-Newfoundland 83, "She's Like the Swallow" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. Blondahl, p. 120, "She's Like the Swallow" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. Silber-FSWB, p. 150, "She's Like The Swallow" (1 text)
7. DT, SWLLOW*
8. Roud #2306
9. BI, FJ140