Where are you going my pretty maid? (Alfred James Caldicott)

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• (Posted 2023-09-29)  CPDL #75873:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-09-29).   Score information: Letter, 12 pages, 801 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Where are you going my pretty maid?
Composer: Alfred James Caldicott
Lyricist:
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong, Nursery rhyme, Humorous song

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1886 Metzler & Co.
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

“Where are you going to, my pretty maid?”
“I’m going a-milking, Sir,” she said.

“May I go with you, my pretty maid?”
“Oh yes, if you please, kind Sir,” she said.

He carried the pail and the three-legged stool,
And smiled at the children coming from school,
As much as to say “I don’t, as a rule,
Go out like this a-milking.

“Oh, have you a father, my pretty maid?”
“Oh yes, and a mother, too,” she said.

And what is your father, my pretty maid?”
“My father’s a farmer, Sir,” she said.

Then visions of well-stocked farms did come,
Of acres broad, and a good round sum,
With beans and bacon ad libitum,
While going out a-milking.

“I suppose you’ve a fortune, my pretty maid?”
“It is settled upon me, Sir,” she said.

“And what is your fortune, my pretty maid?”
“My face is my fortune, Sir,” she said.

He opened his mouth, but his tongue was dumb;
He tried to speak, but no words would come.
His facial expression was somewhat glum
And curdled his love for milking.

“Then I cannot marry you, my pretty maid,”
“Nobody ax’d you, Sir,” she said.

He dropped the pail and the three legged stool,
At the Maiden’s answer calm and cool,
And felt that he’d made of himself a fool
By going out a-milking.