“The Swan (II)”
Description
Returning from Wexford the singer sees a girl "like a swan that floats o'er the ocean" who "often grieved my poor heart." She rejects his marriage proposal because "I've been promised ten years or more" to Reilly "in a foreign country"
Notes
Is this just a shortened version of "John (George) Riley" (II) [Laws N37], or some similar ballad? Or is this a mangled ballad of a swan-maiden? - BS
References
- Creighton-Maritime, p. 75, "The Swan" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Roud #2709
- BI, CrMa075