The Shirt of Lace

Find Under:

Shirt of Lace, The

First Line:

Oh, water where there is no well

Reference

Genre:

traditional U.S.

Culture:

Appalachian

About the Song

This Appalachian traditional song was collected by John Jacob Niles as Niles #2C in Kentucky in 1908. It is a variant of Child Ballad #2 "The Elfin Knight", which is in turn the source of the Simon & Garfunkel adaptation "Scarborough Fair".

Article in Balladeer: https://dearballadeer.com/portfolio/niles-no-2/

In The Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles: link on Google books

Oh, water where there is no well
Viny flow'r & rosemary tree
Water where there is no well
What name will my true love tell?
Viny flow'r & rosemary tree

Am - - F / Am - Dm - / 1st / Am - Dm Am G - / Am - Dm Em - -

Oh, valley where no sun do fall,
Viny flow'r & rosemary tree
Valley where no sun do fall,
Grows no crop, no spring, no fall.
Viny flow'r & rosemary tree

If you should wash my linsey dress,
Viny flow'r & rosemary tree
If you wash my linsey dress,
And hang it in my mother’s press
Viny flow'r & rosemary tree

If you should wash my shirt of lace
Viny flow'r & rosemary tree
If you wash my shirt of lace,
Be sure the buttons be in place
Viny flow'r & rosemary tree

And then my acre ‘side the sea
Viny flow'r & rosemary tree
Then my acre side the sea
Will be halved up, my love, with thee
Viny flow'r & rosemary tree

(chords are from the Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles)