Gentle Jenny
by Lady Viridis Solari


Oh, Jenny she was a gentle young maid
Sun above, road below, my love leads me on
In meadows so green for her true love she played
Piping she captured the wind and the sky
With the magic her honest heart made-o
With the magic her honest hear made

Now her lad he liked his Jenny just fine
Sun above, road below, my love leads me on
He called her cheeks roses and her lips summer wine
But he never did hear the music she played
For to play her was his heart's design-o
For to play her was his heart's design

Down by the water a river sprite dwelled
Sun above, road below, my love leads me on
By her charm and her kisses Jenny's laddie was felled
She took him to lie in her river bed
In her watery arms he was held-o
In her watery arms he was held

O where is my love and how did he go?
Sun above, road below, my love leads me on
No track did he leave in the green valley below
And I'll not rest 'til he stands by my side
I'll search the hills high and low-o
I'll search the hills high and low

Well Jenny she looked for nearly a year
Sun above, road below, my love leads me on
But no sign did she see nor word did she hear
'Til thunder did shatter the peace of the sky
And a mage all in robes did appear-o
A mage all in robes did appear

"Oh ,give me a kiss, fair Jenny," he said
Sun above, road below my love leads me on
"I'll give what I know for those lips rosy red,"
So Jenny she gave the mage what he asked
And knew her lad lay on the river bed-o
Knew her lad lay on the river bed

"Oh, give me your pipes that play so clear,"
Sun above, road below, my love leads me on
"I'll give magic to guard you for the music I hear,"
With a cry Jenny lay her pipes in his hand
So no spell would she have to fear-o
No spell would she have to fear

"Now give me your heart, caged like a dove,"
Sun above, road below, my love leads me on
"And I'll take you down to your own true love
Free him from the witch's embrace
And return him to the world above-o
Return him to the world above."

Beneath the cold water she sees her lad
Sun above, road below, my love leads me on
Sees how he lays in those white arms, so glad
No chains bound round him at all
In silken sheets he is clad-o
In silken sheets he is clad.

The river sprite likes her laddie just fine
Sun above, road below, my love leads me on
But she has no desire to see true Jenny pine
"If you find it in your heart to forgive him
I'll give him up to be thine-o
I'll give him up to be thine."

"I've travelled for a year and day
Sun above, road below, my love leads me on
So far just to find you and bring you away
But I haven't the heart to forgive you
For I fear that I've given it away-o
Fear that I've given it away."

Well Jenny she stands and weeps on the shore
Sun above, road below, my love leads me on
But the mage cries out, "Nay weep no more!
I'll give you the kiss that you gave me
To ease this pain so sore-o
To ease this pain so sore."

"Take back your pipes and your music so fine
Sun above, road below, my love leads me on
Your heart I'll return if you will but have mine
You'll win far more than you lost, girl
If you'll with me entwine-o
If you'll with me entwine."

Well, Jenny takes kisses and pipes happily
Sun above, road below, my love leads me on
"I'll treasure your heart, but keep mine, for you see
You cared for it better than I did
So hold it safe for me-o
Hold it safe for me."