XI. LOVE SONGS AND MYSTIC SONGS
Love holds first place in all lyrics, and there is no exception to this rule in the folk-song. There is, however, this difference;—whilst the art-song is frequently couched in language abstract and sentimental, and enriched with metaphor and simile, the folk-song is almost always direct, and from its baldness of diction possessed of great force.
The declaration of love in a folk-song is simple, and there is no mincing of words. It is unmistakably fervent and in earnest. The tragedy of a girl’s forsakenness is Biblical in its plainness; sometimes it is a song rather of triumph than pity.
Few more beautiful and direct specimens of the former type exist than the one beginning—
“A brisk young farmer courted me, He stole away my liberty, He stole my heart with my free goodwill, I must confess I love him still.
There is an ale-house in this town, Where my love goes and sits him down; He takes another girl on his knee, Ah! is not that a grief to me?
A grief to me, I’ll tell you why, Because she has more gold than I; Her gold will waste, her beauty blast, Poor girl she’ll come like me at last”;
and so forth.
Another very beautiful love song is “The bonnie bonnie boy” noted by Miss Broadwood, and published in English County Songs. It opens—
“I once loved a boy, a bonnie, bonnie boy, I loved him I’ll vow and protest. I loved him so well, and so very, very well, That I built him a bower in my breast,” etc.