I went down to the hiring fair for to sell my labour,
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And I noticed a maid in the very next row and I hoped she'd be my neighbour.
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Imagine then my delight when the farmer picked us both.
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I spoke not a word in the cart to the farm, but my heart beat in my throat.
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My lodging was dry and my master fair and I gave him full measure,
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But my envy grew like the corn in the field for in his house was my treasure,
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And I'd watch her carry water, or drive cows from the byre,
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And the heat from the sun made the corn grow strong and with it my desire.
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Well I'd see her in my dreaming and in my dreams caress
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Her eyes, her lips and her dark brown hair, the curves beneath her dress.
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But harvest time it came at last, so heavy was the task
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That the women and the men worked side by side and I had her near at last,
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And I swung harder with my scythe, few words between us passed,
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And I cursed my tongue-tied youthfulness and I hoped that she'd hear my heart.
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When all was safely gathered in and we sat down to rest
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My trembling fingers touched her arm, and she placed them on her breast.
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And then she turned to me as the sun went down and all my senses reeled,
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As we lay there on the scented ground and the moon rose over the field.
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She was safely gathered in my arms when from the barn
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Drifted the sound of a violin and we hurried back to the farm,
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And all were dancing in the lantern light and music filled the air,
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And I thanked my stars for the harvest moon and the girl from the hiring fair.
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Oh all were dancing in the lantern light and music filled the air,
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And I thanked my stars for the harvest moon and the girl from the hiring fair.
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The Girl From The Hiring Fair
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| Ralph McTell |
