“The Snow It Melts the Soonest”
Description
"Oh the snow it melts the soonest when the winds begin to sing... And when a woman tells me that my face she'll soon forget, Before we part, I wad a croon, she's fain to follow't yet." The singer declares analogies to why parting need not be forever
Supplemental text
Snow It Melts the Soonest, The
Complete text(s)
*** A ***
From Stokoe/Reay, Songs and Ballads of Northern England, pp. 120-121.
Oh the snow it melts the soonest when the winds begin to sing,
And the corn it ripens fastest when the frosts are settin' in;
And when a woman tells me that my face she'll soon forget,
Before we part, I wad a croon, she's fain to follow't yet.
Oh the snow it melts the soonest when the winds begin to sing,
And the swallow skims without a thought as long as it is Spring;
But when Spring goes and Winter blows, my lass, an' you'll be fain,
For all your pride, to follow me, were't across the stormy main.
Oh the snow it melts the soonest when the winds begin to sing,
The bee that flew when Summer shone in Winter cannot sting;
I've seen a woman's anger melt between the night and morn,
And it's surely not a harder thing to tame a woman's scorn.
Oh, never say me farewell here -- no farewell I'll receive,
For you shall set me to the stile, and kiss, and take your leave;
But I'll stay here till the woodcock comes and the martlet takes his wing,
Oh the snow it melts the soonest when the winds begin to sing.
References
- Stokoe/Reay, pp. 120-121, "The Snow It Melts the Soonest" (1 text, 1 tune)
- ST StoR120 (Full)
- Roud #3154
- BI, StoR120