Jenny Bryce

This morn as I was lost in thought, as up the hill I wandered
And sitting there to greet the dawn, upon my life I pondered
I glanced along the shaded grove where often I had been
With Jenny Bryce, Jack the Rover's daughter
Sweet Jenny Bryce, Jack the Rover's daughter

Her family came of tinker's stock, baptized by flowing water
Old Jack, he was disposed to roam, and so his only daughter
And me a lad of seventeen, I left my parent's home
For Jenny Bryce, Jack thе Rover's daughter
Sweet Jenny Brycе, Jack the Rover's daughter

And from wooded glen to heathered moor, with Jenny I went roving
Her voice so sweet and soft and low, from daylight til day's closing
And when at night I laid to rest, t'was in my true loves arms
Jenny Bryce, Jack the Rover's daughter
Sweet Jenny Bryce, Jack the Rover's daughter

One day she said, "Oh Willie, I weary of the road"
So a fine small house I built for her, down in yon shaded grove
And there, with Jenny by my side, I led a settled life
With Jenny as companion, and as wife

Then one day she said, "Oh Willie, a child for us I bear"
And all that winter long I worked and helped her to prepare
But none but God could help us, with a birth such as she had
She was Jenny Bryce, she bore for us a daughter
She was Jenny Bryce, she bore for us a daughter

And six tortured hours she lingered, and never once complained
And all there was to do for her, I did to ease her pain
When morning came I formed a cross, and carved on it her name
Jenny Bryce, Jack the Rover's daughter
Sweet Jenny Bryce, Jack the Rover's daughter

And this morn as I was lost in thought, as up the hill I ambled
Back along the shaded stream, where with my love I rambled
To greet a child of seven years, who bears her mother's name
She is Jenny Bryce, Jenny Bryce's daughter
She is Jenny Bryce, Jenny Bryce's daughter