“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

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1930 (Karpeles-Newfoundland)
Found in: Canada(Newf)