Fairport Convention - The hiring fair

^EmI went down to the ^Chiring fair ^Gfor to sell my ^D/F#labour I ^Emnoticed a maid in the ^Cvery next row, I ^Bmhoped she'd be my ^Cneighbour I^Gmagine then ^D/F#my delight when the ^Emfarmer picked us ^Cboth Though I spoke not a word on the ^Dcart to the farm My heart beat in my ^Emthroat ^C

My ^Emlodging was dry and my ^Cmaster fair, I ^Ggave him full ^D/F#measure Like ^Emcorn in the field my ^Cenvy grew, for ^Bmin his house was my ^Ctreasure I ^Gwatched her carry ^D/F#water, or drive ^Emcows from the ^Cbyre And the heat from the sun made the ^Dcorn grow strong And with it my de^Emsire ^{C Em C}

I ^Emsee her in my ^Cdreaming and ^Gin my dreams ca^D/F#ress Her ^Emlips, her eyes, her ^Cdark brown hair, the ^Bmcurves beneath her ^Cdress And ^Gharvest time it ^D/F#came at last, so ^Emheavy was our ^Ctask That the women and the men worked ^Dside by side So I had her near at ^Emlast ^{C Em C}

^EmI swung harder ^Cwith my scythe, ^Gfew words between us ^Dpassed I ^Emcursed my tongue-tied ^Cyouthfulness, ^Bmhoped she'd hear my ^Cheart When ^Gall was safely ^D/F#gathered in, ^Emwe sat down to ^Crest My trembling fingers ^Dtouched her arm She placed them on her ^Embreast

She ^Emturned to me as the ^Csun went down and ^Gall my senses ^D/F#reeled ^EmWe lay there on the ^Cscented ground 'til the ^Bmmoon rose over the ^Cfield

^EmShe was safely ^Cgathered in my ^Garms when from the ^D/F#barn ^EmDrifted the sound of a ^Cviolin and we ^Bmhurried to the ^Cfarm ^GAll were dancing in the ^D/F#lantern light and ^Emmusic filled the ^Cair And I thanked the stars and the ^Dharvest moon For the girl from the hiring ^Emfair