Fare Thee Well, My Bonny Bride

folk,Sparseold-Englishfolkballadwithfingerpickedluteornylon-stringguitar,gentlefiddledrone,andasinglemalevocaloutfront.Versesstayintimateandstorytelling;chorusfeelslikeasimpletavernsing-alongwithstackedharmoniesonthetitleline.Subtleframedrumandlowdroneswellinthebridge,theneverythingstripsbacktojustvoiceandstringsonthefinalline.

[Verse 1]
The cock hath crowed the break of day
The frost lies pale on hedge and stone
My gear is set
My spear is bound
Yet here I stand
With thee alone

[Chorus]
Fare thee well
My bonny bride
Keep the hearth and hold thee true
If I fall on foreign side
Let the bells still ring for you
Fare thee well
My bonny bride

[Verse 2]
Thy apron smells of bread and thyme
Thy hair is loosed from yester-eve
Thy thumb still stained with berry-red
I see all this
And still must leave

[Chorus]

[Bridge]
If I come not at harvest moon
[low vocal register] Nor tread again this cottage floor
Teach our little lad my name
Tell our lass what I fought for
[soft harmony] Say I walked with shoulders straight
Say I spake thy name in prayer
Say the saints did guide my hand
When the steel was bright and bare

[Verse 3]
So take this ring of hammered tin
And bind it on thy tender hand
Though kings may call and trumpets sound
My heart stays here
In this poor land

[Chorus]