Shirley Collins - Rambleaway

^AmAs I go a-^Cwalking down Birmingham ^GStreet ^AmIn my new ^Cscarlet jacket all neat and ^Gcomplete, ^AmThe girls all say as they pass me ^Eby, ^Am"Is that the young man they call ^E(7)Ramble^Amaway?"

^AmAs I was a-^Cwalking to Birmingham ^GFair ^AmI saw lovely ^CNancy a-curling her ^Ghair. ^AmI tipped her the wink and she rolled her dark ^Eeye, ^AmAnd said I to myself, "I'll be ^E(7)there by and ^Amby."

^AmAs I was out ^Cwalking that night in the ^Gdark ^AmI took lovely ^CNancy to be my swee^Gtheart; ^AmShe smiled in my face and to me she did ^Esay, ^Am"Aren't you the young man they call ^E(7)Ramble^Amaway?"

^AmI said, "My dear ^CNancy, don't smile in my ^Gface, ^AmFor I do not int^Cend to stay long in this ^Gplace." ^Am"Then where are you going, come tell me, my ^Edear." ^AmI told her I'd ramble the d^E(7)evil knows ^Amwhere.

^AmBefore twelve ^Cweeks was over and ^Gpast ^AmThis pretty young ^CNancy, she grew sick at ^Glast. ^AmHer dress wouldn't pin nor her apron strings ^Etie ^AmAnd she longed for the sight of young ^E(7)Ramble^Amaway.

^AmMy dad and my ^Cmother have both come from ^Ghome. ^AmBut when they re^Cturn I won't sit down and ^Gmourn ^AmI'll tell them the story and leave them to ^Esay, ^Am"Well, no doubt she's been playing with young ^E(7)Ramble^Amaway."

^AmSo come all you young ^Cladies, take a warning by ^Gme, ^AmWhen courting the ^Cboys, don't be easy and ^Gfree. ^AmJust dress yourselves up as you step out to ^Epay ^AmBut take care if you meet with young ^E(7)Ramble^Amaway.