A REFUGE FOR POETS WHO WRITE IN THE LYRIC TRADITION,
WITH RHYME AND METER, WITH OR WITHOUT MUSIC
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PRETTY PEGGY-O
As we marched down to Fennario,
As we marched down to Fennario,
Our captain fell in love with a lady like a dove,
And they called her by name pretty Peggy-O.
Will you marry me, pretty Peggy-O?
Will you marry me, pretty Peggy-O?
If you will marry me, I’ll set your cities free,
Freeing all the ladies in the areo.
I would marry you, sweet William-O.
I would marry you, sweet William-O.
I would marry you, but your guineas are too few,
And I fear my Mama would be angry-O.
What would your Mama think, pretty Peggy-O?
What would your Mama think, pretty Peggy-O?
What would your Mama think if she heard my guineas clink,
As I’m marching at the head of my soldiers-O?
Come step on down the stairs, pretty Peggy-O.
Come step on down the stairs, pretty Peggy-O.
Come step on down the stairs, combing back your yellow hair.
Take a last farewell of sweet William-O.
In a carriage you shall ride, pretty Peggy-O.
In a carriage you shall ride, pretty Peggy-O.
In a carriage you shall ride, with your true love by your side,
As grand as any lady in the areo.
If ever I return, pretty Peggy-O,
If ever I return, pretty Peggy-O,
If ever I return, your cities I will burn,
Destroying all the ladies in the areo.
Sweet William he is dead, pretty Peggy-O.
Sweet William he is dead, pretty Peggy-O.
Sweet William he is dead, and he died for a maid,
And he’s buried in the Louisiana country-O.
Traditional Appalachian
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