Lyrics Factory Girl - Kronos Quartet , Rhiannon Giddens

Sarah Makem sings The Factory Girl

As I went a-walking one fine summer's morning,
The birds on the branches they sweetly did sing.
The lads and the lasses together were sporting,
Going down to yon factory their work to begin.

I spied a wee damsel more fairer than Venus,
Her skin like the lily that grows in the dell,
Her cheek like the red rose that grew in yon valley.
She is my own only goddess; she's a sweet factory girl.

I stepped it up to her, it was for to view her,
When on me she cast a proud look of disdain.
"Stand off me! Stand off me and do not insult me,
For although I'm a poor girl, I think it no shame."

"I don't mean to harm you or yet, love, to scorn you,
But grant me one favour: pray where to you dwell?"
"I am a poor orphan without home or relations
And besides I'm a hard working factory girl."

Well, now to conclude and to finish these verses,
This couple got married and both are doing well.
So, lads, fill your glasses and drink to the lasses
Till we hear the dumb sound of the sweet factory bell.

Sandra Kerr sings The Factory Girl on The Female Frolic

As I went out walking one fine summer's morning
The birds in the bushes did warble and sing.
The lads and the lasses in couples were sporting,
Going down to yon factory their work to begin.

I spied one among them more fairer than any,
Her cheeks like the red rose that none could excel,
Her skin like the lily that bloomed in yon valley
And she was a hard working factory girl.

I kindly stepped to her all thinking to view her,
On me she cast a look of disdain.
Saying, "Young man, have manners and do not come near me."
The more you're a poor girl I think it no shame.

"It's not for to scorn you, fair maid, I adore you.
Come grant me one favour, love, where do you dwell?"
"Oh young man, excuse me, for now I must leave you,
For yonder's the sound of my factory bell."

"Well I have fine houses adorned with ivory,
Gold in my pockets and silver as well.
And if you'll go with me, a lady I'll make you
And no more will you need yon poor factory bell."

"Love and temptation are our ruination,
Go find you a lady and may you do well.
For I am an orphan, neither friend nor relation,
And forbye, I'm a hard working factory girl."

With these words she vanished and then she did leave me,
And all for her sake I'll go wander away,
And in some deep valley where no one will know me
I will mourn for the sake of my factory girl.

Packie Cunningham sings The Factory Girl

Well as I went a-walking one fine summer's morning
The birds in the bushes did warble and sing,
Gay laddies and lasses in couples were sporting
Going down to factory their work to begin.

I spied one among them was fairer than any
Her cheeks like the red rose that none could excel,
Her skin like the lily that grows in yon valley,
And she was a hard working factory girl.

I stepped up beside her, more closely to view her
And on me she cast such a look of disdain,
Saying "Young man have manners and do not come near me,
Although I'm a poor girl, I think it no shame."

"I have land, I have houses adorned there with ivy.
I have gold in my pocket and silver as well.
And if you come with me, a lady I'll make you
No more need you heed on old factory bell."

"Loving sensation rules manys the nation
Go marry a lady and may you do well.
I'm only an orphan with ne'er a relation
And besides I'm a hollow* old factory girl."

With those words she turned and like that she had left me,
And all for her sake I'll go wander away.
In some lonesome valley where no-one will know me
I'll mourn for the loss of my factory girl.

* The usual lyrics are 'hard-working'. P
Ackie uses the word hollow here as an adjective.
For example: a hollow victory—meaning worthless, useless, etc.

Frankie Armstrong sings The Factory Girl

As I was a-walking one midsummer morning
The birds in the branches so sweetly did sing,
The lads and the lasses together were sporting,
Going down to yon factory their work to begin.

I spied one amongst them more fairer than any,
Her lips like the red rose that none could excel.
Her skin like the lily that blooms in the valley
And besides she's a hard working factory girl.

I stepped up to her, it was for to view her,
When on me she cast a bright look of disdain.
"Oh young man, have manners and do not insult me
For although I'm a poor girl I think it no shame."

"It's not for to scorn you, fair maid, I adore you.
Come grant me one favour, love, where do you dwell?"
"Oh young man, excuse me, for now I must leave you,
For yonder's the sound of my factory bell."

"Oh I have fine houses adorned with ivory,
Gold in my pocket and silver as well.
And if you'll come with me, a lady I'll make you
And no more will you heed yon poor factory bell."

"Oh love and temptation are our ruination,
Go find you a lady and may you do well.
For I am an orphan with ne'er a relation
And besides I'm a hard working factory girl."

Louis Killen sings The Factory Girl

As I went a-walking one fine summer's morning
The birds in the bushes so sweetly did sing.
The lads and the lasses together were sporting,
Going down to yon factory their work to begin.

I spied one among them was fairer than any,
Her skin like the lily that grows in the dell
Her cheeks like the red rose that grows in yon valley,
And she's my one only hard working sweet factory girl.

I stepped up unto her, it was for to view her,
When on me she cast a proud look of disdain.
"Stand off me, stand off me, and do not insult me."
For although I'm a poor girl I think it no shame."

"I don't mean to harm you no yet, love, to scorn you.
But grant me one favour, pray where do you dwell?"
"I am a poor orphan without home or relations,
And besides I'm a hard-working factory girl."

"I have land, I have houses adorned with ivy,
I have gold in my pocket and silver as well.
And if you'll go with me, a lady I'll make you
So try and say yes, my dear factory girl."

"Now love and sensation rules many a nation,
To many a lady perhaps you'll do well.
My friends and my comrades would all frown upon it
For I m only a hard-working factory girl."

It's true I did love her but now she won't have me
And all for her sake I must wander awhile
Over high hills and valleys where no one shall know me
Far away from the sound of the sweet factory bell.