Gathering Mushrooms
Rising early out of bed across the fields I steered o
And o and I a woman I spied
A pretty fair maid appeared o
Her head was bare, I do declare
She had neither hat, nor feather on
And she stooped so low, given me to know
It was mushrooms she was gathering o
O gathering o
And she stooped so low, given me to know
It was mushrooms she was gathering o
“Where are you going” said I, my dear
Why are you out so early o
I’ve seen you on the dewy grass,
before the sower appeared o
Quite modestly she answered me
and she gave her head a fetch up….
And she said, I am gathering mushrooms
To make my Mummy ketchup o….
O ketchup o…
And she said, I am gathering mushrooms to make my Mummy ketchup o
Her parting breast on mine she pressed
Her heart was like a feather o
And her lips on mine did gently join
And we both sat down together o
Together o….
and her lips on mine did gently join
and we both sat down together o
A humorous Ulster ballad which tells it’s own story. The first time I heard this song was at a concert in Hollywood, Co. Wicklow when Kevin Coniff of the Chieftains sang it.
