Ginny On The Moor
One morning for recreation as I strolled by the seaside
Oh the sun was gently rising and in came the morning tide.
I spied a pretty fair maid as she sat by the sea shore
And a pulling of some choice seaweed was Ginny on the moor.
We both sat down together down by the cool sea side
And I said fair maid with your consent I would make you my bride.
It’s I have plenty of money and I come from a foreign shore
Let us join our hands in wedlock bands I will go to sea no more.
She said I have a true love ‘though he is far away
And it’s virgin I will prove to him when he comes home from sea.
Well if you have a true love then tell to me his name
Oh his name is Dennis Ryan and from your home town he came.
If Dennis Ryan is his name then I know him very well
T’was at the battle of Trafalgar to an angry ball he fell.
These words were scarcely spoken as we sat by the sea shore
When she fell she fainted in me arms did Ginny on the moor.
Now when he saw her loyalty look up to me he cried
For this is your Dennis Ryan who is standing by your side.
And as you’ve proved so faithful I will go to sea no more
Let us join our hands in wedlock bands my Ginny on the moor.
Let us join our hands in wedlock bands my Ginny on the moor.
This traditional song came from the singing of Simon McDonald a woodcutter of Creswick, Victoria, Australia collected by Norm O’Connor and Kath and Arthur Lumsden.