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The Slender Lass

D. Roy Saer.

I travelled to London town,
Ah yes, and to [other] large towns,
I did, I did,
And also Spain and Scotland,
Yes, yes, and also Spain and Scotland, yes,
and also Spain and Scotland, yes,
In search of a slender lass.

Her body it was pleasing
And slender at the waist,
Oh, and her little hands as white,
Oh, and her little hands as white, oh,
Oh, and her little hands as white, oh,
As the flowers on the thorn.

After we are married,
We’ll have two little ones;
One will be taller than the chair,
One will be taller than the chair, oh,
One will be taller than the chair, oh,
The other a little mite.

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The Slender Lass

SFNHM Tape 609. Collected 21.9.63 from William Rowlands (coal seller, b. 1888), Letterston, near Fishguard, Pembrokeshire.

Notes

The song offers the impassioned reflections of a lover who has found his slender lass after seeking one in many countries and now yearningly anticipates marrying her and having children. The only other known printed version of 'Y Fenyw Fain' was also obtained in north Pembrokeshire. See JWFSS, iv, 106.

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