Track 6. Won't You Go My Way (Roud 8289)

This a song I knew from Yankee Jack, but I’ve given it the Milton Twist, slightly simplifying and bringing it up to date. When I take people for a history walk around Watchet I’ll always start with the phrase “Won’t you go my way?”. This recording goes into the tune of “Oh dear mother what a fool I’ve been, six young maids came a courting me, five was blind and the other couldn’t see, oh dear mother what a fool I’ve been”... I learnt that tune and song as a child from the West Somerset Morris (including Gordon Kidd and Dudley Binding) when they danced at village fetes.

I met her in the morning, won’t you go my way? I met her in the morning, won’t you go my way?

In the morning bright and early, won’t you go my way? I love that girl so freely, won’t you go my way?

She spent my money freely, won’t you go my way? She grabbed the lot... or nearly, won’t you go my way?

I asked that girl to marry, won’t you go my way? She said she’d rather tarry, won’t you go my way?

Oh marry never tarry, won’t you go my way? Oh marry never tarry, won’t you go my way?

And now that I am married, won’t you go my way? I’m glad I didn’t tarry, won’t you go my way?

Oh Julia Anna Maria, won’t you go my way? Oh Julia Anna Maria, won’t you go my way?

Oh I round her up so hearty, won’t you go my way?

I’m Jack-the-bleeding-hearty, won’t you go my way?