Sour Milk Cart

The first version of this song was written by Tom Johnstone, 'The Calton Barber Poet', about a young couple of his acquaintance.  It was quickly adopted into the oral tradition and gave rise to the variant we play.  Susanne Kalweit has posted some excellent historical notes at the Mudcat Cafe.

I am a country servant serving in Collon
In a place they call New Hamilton, the grand old-fashioned town;
It being early in the morning, just after three
I'm taking the road to Clady, the old grey mare and me.

At the corner of the street, a bus I chanced to pass
And in the corner of the bus I spied a country lass
Says I, My bonny fair maid, come along with me
I'm taking the road to Clady, the old grey mare and me.

Cheeks as red as roses, eyes a bonny blue,
Dancing, glancing they pierced me through and through;
She fairly won my fancy, stole away my heart
Jogging up to Clady in the sour milk cart.

I asked her up beside me, on the cart she sat.
I slipped an arm around her waist, we soon got into chat.
The birds in the bushes sweetly they did sing
The blackbirds and the thrushes how they made the valleys ring.

Well you've heard of lords and ladies making love in shady bowers
And how the whoe whilst by amongst the roses and the flowers
I'll never forget that morning when Cupid shot his dart
Jogging up to Clady in the sour milk cart.

Cheeks as red as roses, eyes a bonny blue,
Dancing, glancing they pierced me through and through;
She fairly won my fancy, stole away my heart
Jogging up to Clady in the sour milk cart!