-Earls Heaton (H. Hardy).

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-Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).

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-Redhill, Surrey (Miss G. Hope).

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-Lancashire (Mrs. Harley).

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-Derbyshire (Mrs. Harley).

I. Green gravel, green gravel, your gra.s.s is so green, The fairest young damsel that ever was seen; We washed her, we dried her, we rolled her in silk, And we wrote down her name with a gla.s.s pen and ink.

Dear Annie, dear Annie, your true love is dead, And we send you a letter to turn round your head.

-Belfast (W. H. Patterson).

II. Green gravel, green gravel, the gra.s.s is so green, The fairest young lady that ever was seen; I'll wash you in milk, And I'll clothe you with silk, And I'll write down your name with a gold pen and ink.

O Sally, O Sally, your true love is dead, He sent you a letter to turn round your head.

-Berrington, Oswestry (_Shropshire Folk-lore_ p. 510).

III. Around the green gravel the gra.s.s is so green, All the pretty fair maids are plain to be seen; Wash them in milk, and clothe them in silk, Write their names down with a gold pen and ink.

All but Miss "Jenny," her sweetheart is dead; She's left off her wedding to turn back her head.

O mother, O mother, do you think it is true?

O yes, child! O yes, child!

Then what shall I do?

We'll wash you in milk, and dress you in silk, And write down your name with a gold pen and ink.

-Derbyshire and Worcestershire (Mrs. Harley).

IV. Green gravel, green gravel, The gra.s.s is so green, Such beautiful flowers As never were seen.

O Annie [or any name], O Annie, Your sweetheart is dead!

He has sent you a letter To turn back your head.

-Earls Heaton, Yorkshire (H. Hardy).

V. Green gravel, green gravel, The gra.s.s is so green, The fairest young damsels As ever were seen.

O --, O --, your true love is dead; He sent you a letter To turn round your head.

Green gravel, green gravel, The gra.s.s is so green, The dismalest damsels As ever were seen.

O --, O --, your true love's not dead; He sends you a letter To turn back your head.

-Lincoln, Winterton, and Wakefield (Miss Fowler and Miss Peac.o.c.k).

VI. Green gravel, green gravel, the gra.s.s is so green, The fairest young lady [damsel] that ever was seen.

O --, O --, your true love is dead; He's sent you a letter to turn round your head.

-Redhill, Surrey (Miss G. Hope); Lancashire (Mrs. Harley).

VII. Green meadows, green meadows, your gra.s.s is so green, The fairest young damsel that ever was seen; O Mary, O Mary, your sweetheart is dead; We've sent you a letter to turn back your head.

_Or_, Green gravel, green gravel, the gra.s.s is so green, and following on as above.

-Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).

VIII. Green grover, green grover, your gra.s.s is so green, The prettiest young lady that ever was seen.

O --, O --, your true love is dead; I send you this letter, so turn round your head.

-Gainford, Durham (Miss Eddleston).

IX. Green gravels, green gravels, The gra.s.s is so green, And all the pretty maidens Are not to be seen, Except -- (said twice), And she's not [?] to be seen, So I send you a letter to turn round your head.

-Hampshire (Miss E. Mendham).

X. Green gravels, green gravels, the gra.s.s is so green, Fine pencils, fine pencils, as ever were seen.

O Mary! O Mary! your true love is dead, And he's sent you a letter to turn round your head.

-Wales (_Byegones_, 1890).

XI. Yellow gravel, yellow gravel, The gra.s.s is so green, The fairest young lady That ever was seen.

O --, O --, Your true love is dead; I send you a letter to turn round your head.

-Cowes, Isle of Wight (Miss E. Smith).

XII. Green gravel, green gravel, the gra.s.s is so green, Said the fairest young damsel that ever I've seen.

O mother, O mother, my true-love is dead, He sent me this letter to turn round my head.

O mother, O mother, do you think this is true?

O yes, love! O yes, love!

And what shall I do?

I'll wash you in b.u.t.ter-milk, I'll dress you in silk, I'll write down your name with my gold pen and ink.

-Isle of Man (A. W. Moore).

XIII. Green gravel, green gravel, the gra.s.s is so green, The flowers are all faded and none to be seen.

O [Dolly], O [Dolly], your sweetheart is dead, He's sent you a letter to turn back your head.

Wallflowers, wallflowers, growing up so high, We are but little, and we shall have to die!

Excepting [Dolly Turner], she's the youngest girl.

O for shame, and fie for shame, and turn your back to home again.

-Madeley, Shropshire (Miss Burne).