As I went out on a Summer’s Morning
As I went down by The Broomielaw
It was there I met with a Glasgow Woman
Her cheeks like roses and her skin like snow
Lassie Lassie why do you wander
All alone by the Broomielaw
Sailor Sailor the truth I’ll tell you
I’ve a lad of me own and he’s far awa’
It’s seven long years since I loved that sailor
It’s seven long years since he sailed awa’
And another seven I’ll wait upon him
And I’ll bleach my clothes in the Broomielaw
O Lassie Lassie you have been faithful
You’ve been true to me while I’ve been awa’
Two hearts like ours they should ne’er be parted
I’ll sail no more down the Broomielaw
Then this couple they have been married
Now they keep an alehouse between them twa
And the sailor laddies they still come calling
On the Bleacher Lassie O’ Kelvinhaugh
I heard this song from Mick Moloney way back in 1964. He shared a basement room in Rathmines with Johnny Morrissey who gave me The Valley of Jarama. Back then Mick was in a band called The Parnell Folk with Donal Lunny and Dan Maher. Mick went on to have great chart success with The Johnstons as did Donal with Emmet Spiceland. Later Mick emigrated to the USA where he became deeply involved in the history of Irish Music in America.
For forty years I’ve sung this song at soundchecks and in the workroom. I’ve heard longer versions in Scotland. I still prefer the way Mick sang it in that Rathmines bedsit 60 years ago. (The full version reveals it to be a “Broken Token” song. Similar story to “The Dark Eyed Sailor” which I recorded on the Prosperous album in 1971.)