Willie Leonard (fragments)
Freda Black
April 2012
Young Leonard went a-swimming
in the lakes of Cold Stream
so the first man he met was a keeper
was a keeper of game
he swam around those islands
and he swam back again
and it’s deep in false water
in the bottom he goes
so the mother to the daughter
I’ve had a sad dream
I dreamt my brother Leonard were drownded
in the lakes of Cold Stream
were there anyone near him?
were there anyone by?
for to spare the life of my poor darling boy
there was no one near him
there was no one by
for to spare the life of your poor darling boy
now it’s early next morning
you were seen a grand sight
there be four and twenty Irish girls
there’ll be dressed in all milk white
and they’ll take him to St Giles’
and they’ll lay him in cold clay
saying there’s adieu to young Leonard
and they’ll march away