The Widow Of Westmorland’s Daughter

There was an old widow in Westmoreland who had no daughter but one
And she has prayed both night and day the gal might keep her maidenhead long

"Oh, don't be daft, your mother," she said, "and say no more to me
For a fine young man in the Grenadier Guards me maidenhead's taken from me"

"You saucy cat, you impudent cat and cursed may you be
If some idle young rogue in the Grenadier Guards your maidenhead's taken from thee"

So the girlie's off to the Grenadier Guards as fast as go could she
Saying "Give me back me maidenhead for me mummy she nags at me"

So he kissed her and undressed her and he laid her on the bed
And he set her head where her feet were before and so give back her maidenhead

Then he kissed her and he dressed her with a rose in either hand
And invited her round to St. Mary's Church to see his fine wedding

So the gal's off back to her mother's house as fast as go can she
"I'm as full a maiden, mother dear, as the day that you bore me

For he kissed me and undressed me and he laid me on the bed
And then he set me head where me feet were before and so give back me maidenhead

Then he kissed me and he dressed me with a rose in either hand
And invited me round to St. Mary's Church to see his fine wedding"

"Oh, never on foot," the mother she said, "in a carriage and pair you'll ride
And four and twenty fine young girls should go with you beside"

"Oh, who is this?" the bride she said, "that comes so high to me"
"Oh! I see it is the widow's daughter who ran home and told her mummy"

How could she do it, how would she do it, how could she do it for shame?
"Eleven long nights I lay with a man and I never told anyone"

He says "If eleven long nights you lay with a man, you'll never shall lie with me
I'd rather marry the widow's daughter who ran home and told her mummy"