The Inn-Keeper’s Daughter

A little ballad that wandered into my head in the middle of the night. It's about love and wanderlust.

The Inn-Keeper’s Daughter

 

When I was just a wee young lad,

I knew where’dventure could be had;

I was bound to seek my fortune ‘cross the water.

 

But wee Jenny said I was bad,

And my going would make her sad,

And she was the inn-keeper’s bonny, fine daughter.

 

When I was five, I went to school,

But just one thought did my heart rule,

I would go to find my fortune ‘cross the water.

 

My Jenny said I was a  fool,

And leaving would be very cruel,

If I lov’d the inn-keeper’s bonny, fine daughter.

 

For seven years I learn’d a trade,

Digging the grave-holes with my spade,

But I knew I’d seek my fortune ‘cross the water.

 

Jenny said my fortune’d be made,

If I wed her, and with her stay’d;

She was the inn-keeper’s heir, his only daughter.

 

But I was young, and dumb beside,

And my heart yearn’d to sail the tide,

Thought I’d surely make my fortune ‘cross the water.

 

Jenny was sure she’d be my bride,

Tho’ I would see the whole world wide,

Sure was she, I’d stay with the inn-keeper’s daughter.

 

My heart belong’d to none but her,

And of my love I was most sure;

Never would I seek my fortune ‘cross the water.

 

“You fool!” the cap’n did aver,

But my devotion, it was sure,

I’d stay and wed the inn-keeper’s blushing daughter.

 

The priest read out the banns to wed,

A wand’ring road I’d no more tread,

Ne’er more’d I think my fortune was ‘cross the water.

 

For fifty years, she’s shar’d my bed;

I’ll love my Jenny ‘til I’m dead;

I found my’dventure wed to the inn-keeper’s daughter.

Author's Note

Initial reactions and constructive criticism welcome. This is supposed to resemble a ballad from the 17th or 18th Century, possibly a nursery ballad.