Lamorna (folk song)

Lamorna is a traditional folk song associated with the county of Cornwall, and dealing with the courtship of a man and a woman , who turned out to be his wife.

History

The song is believed to date from the Victorian/Edwardian eras but gained popularity in the 1960's.

Usage

Often sung at Cornish folk clubs or by Cornish male voice choirs.

Lyrics

Lamorna

So now I'll sing to you, about a maiden fair,
I met the other evening at the corner of the square.
She had a dark and roving eye, she was a charming rover,
And we rode all night, through the pale moonlight
away down to Lamorna.

Chorus
Twas down in Albert square
I never shall forget,
Her eyes they shone like diamonds
and the evening it was wet, wet, wet.
Her hair hung down in curls,
she was a charming rover,
And we rode all night,
through the pale moonlight,
away down to Lamorna.

As we got in the cab, I asked her for her name,
And when she gave it me, well, mine it was the same,
So I lifted up her veil, for her face was covered over,
And to my surprise, it was my wife,
I took down to Lamorna.

Chorus

She said, I know you now, I knew you all along,
I knew you in the dark, but I did it for a lark,
And for that lark you'll pay, for the taking of the donah:
You'll pay the fare, for I declare,
away down to Lamorna.

Chorus

Notes

• It is claimed that the Albert Square in the song was a place in Penzance now called Albert street. There are claims by the folk group "The Yetties" ,that Albert square was infact in Manchester and the place was Pomona Docks,

• The cab refered to in the song would have been a horse drawn cab.

• donah in verse 3 is pronounced 'doe-na' is Polari slang for a woman.

• Some versions of the song interchange roved with rode both versions are acceptable.

• "they rode all night" comes from the habit of couples hiring a cab with curtained windows so that the two could "be alone" for several hours if necessary. Women (possibly married) would disguise themselves with a veil so that they would not be recognised by their aquaintances while they picked up a young gentleman for the evening.

Versions of the song have been recorded by the following artists.

• Brenda Wootton
• The Yetties
• The Spinners ('All Day Singing') (1977).

See also

• Brenda Wootton, folk singer who popularised the song.
• Lamorna village

External links

• http://www.trelawnys-army.org.uk/ta/lamorna.html
• Translation of song into Cornish language
• Words in Cornish dialect