Fair Fanny Moore

Laws #O38

Other titles or closely related songs: Fanny Moore, On the Banks of the Silvery Tide (related--Laws #O37)

Yonder stands a cottage deserted and alone

Its paths are neglected with grass overgrown;

Go in and you will see some dark stains on the floor,

Alas, it is the blood of fair Fanny Moore.

 

To Fanny, so blooming, two lovers they came

One offered young Fanny his wealth and his name,

But neither his money nor pride could secure

A place in the heart of fair Fanny Moore.

 

The first was young Randal, so bold and so proud

Who to thee fair Fanny his haughty head bowed

But his wealth and his house both failed to allure

The heart from the bosom of the fair Fanny Moore.

 

The next was young Henry of lowest degree,

He won her fine love, enraptured was she;

And then at the altar, he quickly did secure

The heart and the hand of fair Fanny Moore.

 

As she was alone in her cottage one day,

When business had called her fond husband away,

Young Randal the haughty stepped in by the door

And clasped to his bosom the fair Fanny Moore.

 

Oh Fanny, dearest Fanny, beware of your fate

Accept of my offer before it's too late,

For one thing is certain, I'm determined to secure

The life or the love of the fair Fanny Moore.

 

Oh spare me, oh spare me, the young Fanny cried,

While tears swiftly flowed from her beautiful eyes

Oh no cried young Randal, go home to your rest

He buried his knife in her snowy white breast.

 

So Fanny, all blooming, in bloodstains she died,

Young Randal the haughty was taken and tried,

At length he was hung on a tree at the door,

For shedding the blood of fair Fanny Moore.

 

Young Henry the shepherd, distracted and wild

Did wander away from his own native isle,

Till at length claimed by death he was brought to this shore

And laid by the side of the fair Fanny Moore.