Traditional & Folk Songs with lyrics & midi music www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
Banks of Green Willow 
Banks of Green Willow 
It's of a sea captain, lived by the sea side oh And he has courted a fair maid till she's proved with child oh 
Crying, "Oh my love, what shall I do and what will become of me For my father and mother they will both disown me" 
"Go fetch some of your father's gold and some of your mother's money And you can sail the ocean along with your Johnny" 
So she's fetched some of her father's gold and some of her mother's money And she's gone on board a ship along with her Johnny 
They hadn't been a sailing scarce six weeks nor so many Before she wanted woman's help and could not get any 
"oh hold your tongue you foolish girl, oh hold your tongue my honey For we cannot get woman's help for love nor for money" 
They hadn't been a sailing scarce six miles nor so many Before she was delivered of a beautiful baby 
"Sea captain, sea captain, here's fifty pounds for thee If you'll fetch me home safe again, both me and my baby" 
"Oh no," says the sea captain, "For such a thing can never be For tis better to loose two lives than it is to loose many" 
So he's tied a kerchief round her head, he's tied it soft and easy And he has thrown her right overboard, both she and her baby 
"See how my love do swim, my boys, see how my love do quiver She will never cease swimming till the banks of green willow" 
"My love shall have a coffin of the gold that shines so yellow And she shall be buried by the banks of green willow" 
Child #24 
recorded by Frankie Armstrong SOF