Sault Antlers' Song Book

6 • THE MAID FROM AMSTERDAM
In Amsterdam, there lived a maid. Mark well what he does say,
In Amsterdam, there lived a maid. And I was mistress of me trade.
I’ll go no more a rovin’ with you fair maid.
A rovin’, a rovin’, since rovin’s been me ruin,
I’ll go no more a rovin’, with you fair maid.
I put me hand upon her knee. Mark well what he does say.
I put me hand upon her knee. She said, “Young man, you’re rather free.”
I’ll go no more a rovin’ with you fair maid.
I put me hand upon her thigh. Mark well what he does say.
I put me hand upon her thigh. She said, “Young man, you’re rather high.”
I’ll go no more a rovin’ with you fair maid.
I put me hand upon her duff. Mark well what he does say.
I put me hand upon her duff. She said, “Young man, please don’t be rough.”
I’ll go no more a rovin’ with you fair maid.
And then I slipped her on the blocks. Mark well what he does say.
And then I slipped her on the blocks. She said, “Young man, I’ve got the pox.”
I’ll go no more a rovin’ with you fair maid.
And when she spent me whole years pay. Mark well what he does say.
And when she spent me whole years pay. I weighed me anchor and sailed away.
I’ll go no more a rovin’ with you fair maid.
7 • THE BLACK VELVET BAND
Her eyes they shone like the diamonds. You’d think she was queen of the land.
And her hair hung over her shoulders, tied up with a black velvet band.
In a neat little town they call Belfast, apprenticer trade I was bound,
And many an hour of sweet happiness I spent in that neat little town.
Till bad misfortune came o’re me that caused me to stray from the land
Far away from me friends and relations to follow the black velvet band.
Well, I was out strolling one evening, not meaning to go very far,
When I met with a frolicsome damsel, just selling her trade in the bar.
When a watch she took from a customer, and slipped it right into my hand.
Then the law came and put me in prison, bad luck to her black velvet band.
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46 • JOHNSON’S MOTORCAR
It was down by Brather Corner one morning I did stray.
I met a fellow rebel and to me these words did say.
I got orders from the captain to assemble at Dunbar
But how are we to get there without a motorcar.
Now Barney dear be of good cheer and I’ll tell you what we’ll do.
The specials they are plentiful while the IRA are few
We’ll send a wire to Stranalar and before we get that far
We’ll give the boys a bloody good ride in Johnson’s motorcar.
And when Johnson got the wire he soon pulled on his shoes.
He said this must be an urgent case and I’ve got no time to lose.
He wore his fancy Castor hat and upon his breast a star
You could hear the din all thru Glen Fin of Johnson’s motorcar.
But when he got to the railway bridge the rebels he saw there
Now Johnson knew the game was up for at them he did stare.
Says he I’ve got a permit to travel near and far
Well you can stick your pass right up your ass we want your motorcar.
And they got the car in motion and filled her to the brim
With guns and bayonets shining old Barney he did grin
And they hoisted up the Sinn Finn flag and shot off like a star
And they gave three cheers for the IRA and Johnson’s motorcar.
When the royal brethren heard the news it filled their hearts with sore
They swore they’d get the IRA before the night was o’re
They chased that car so very far from the mountains to Glen Char
But the IRA were far away in Johnson’s motorcar.
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