Willow May

A girl elopes for a better life when the travellers come to town. It’s got to be better than “toiling her days in fields of corn”!

Willow May was English born
Toiled her days in fields of corn
When the gypsies came to dance
She packed her bag and took her chance

Days were long and left their mark
Pay was poor her lodgings stark
When she saw the gypsy’s fire
She realised she was not for hire

Willow May has gone away
A note was left she could not stay
Through the gate and down the lane
Never to be seen again
Raise a glass to Willow May
Across the hills and far away
A gypsy caravan you heed
Is all the home she’ll ever need

Courted by the local men
Never saying where or when
When she heard the gypsy’s song
She followed on and soon was gone

The hiring master called her name
No reply came back the same
Gypsy camp had slipped away
And with them travelled Willow May

Willow May has gone away
A note was left she could not stay
Through the gate and down the lane
Never to be seen again
Raise a glass to Willow May
Across the hills and far away
A gypsy caravan you heed
Is all the home she’ll ever need

No one knows from where they came
Where they went or knew their name
What became of Willow May
Across the hills and far away

Willow May was English born
Toiled her days in fields of corn
Now she answers to no lord
Spends her days upon the road

Willow May has gone away
A note was left she could not stay
Through the gate and down the lane
Never to be seen again
Raise a glass to Willow May
Across the hills and far away
A gypsy caravan you heed
Is all the home she’ll ever need