Graham Irwin - Come Write Me Down - with lyrics in the description

Graham Irwin sing Come Write Me Down accompanied on electro-acoustic guitar.

A traditional English folk song often associated with the Copper Family of Sussex who had the song in their repertoire, it having been passed down through several generations of the family. It is also known as The Wedding Song or The Scornful Maid or Second Thoughts Are Best. The song was included in a number of Victorian broadsides, but its origin is unknown.

Marriage by asking was marriage by a simple exchange of consent, that is, without banns or licence, something that was abolished by the Clandestine Marriages Act 1753.

Image: Marriage Certificate by J. Howard Iams, 1936 courtesy NGA

LYRICS:

Come write me down, ye powers above
The man that first created love,
For I've a diamond in my eye
Where all my joys and comforts lie.
Where all my joys and comforts lie.

"I'll give you gold, I will give you pearl
If you could fancy me, dear girl.
Rich costly robes that you shall wear
If you could fancy me, my dear.
If you could fancy me, my dear."

"'Tis not your gold shall me entice
To leave off pleasures to be a wife,
For I don't mean or intend at all
To be at any young man's call.
To be at any young man's call."

"Then go your way you scornful dame
Since you've proved false I will prove the same.
'Tis I don't seek, but I shall find
Some other fair maid to my mind.
Some other fair maid to my mind."

"Oh, stay young man don't be in haste,
You seem afraid your time you will waste.
Let reason rule your roving mind
And unto you I will prove kind.
And unto you I will prove kind."

So to church they went that very next day
And were married by asking, as I've heard say,
And now that girl she is his wife,
She'll prove his comfort day and night.
She'll prove his comfort day and night.