The Ballad of Midsomer County
Lucie Jones Lyrics
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Fine Lords and Laddies
And I'll tell you the tale
Of young John Henry
He met a fair maiden
One bright May morning
Whence he went a-hunting
In Midsomer County
Pale was the skin
Of the Midsomer maiden
Blue were her eyes
As blue as the sea
And on her fair head
Lay a garland of flowers
Sweet were the roses
Of Midsomer County
Young men don't stray
This maiden will lead you away
Ta da-da-da
She brought him ale
And she brought him supper
Fresh eggs and live eels
For young John Henry
She said, "Eat your fill
And when you are sated
You'll stay with me here
In Midsomer County"
"Alas I cannot stay"
Said young John Henry
"I am bound to another
And soon married I'll be
I thank thee for supper
My kind and fair maiden
But now I must leave here
Midsomer County"
Young men don't stray
This maiden will lead you away
Ta da-da-da-da
Up went the cry
Of the Midsomer maiden
"For shame and for shame
For you have tricked me
You're bound to me now
And I am your lover
I swear you'll not leave here
Midsomer County"
Cold was the blade
Of the Midsomer maiden
Soft was the neck
Of young John Henry
Warm was the blood
That flowed from his body
Red as the roses
Of Midsomer County
Oh, young men don't stray
This maiden will lead you away
Ta da-da-da
The Ballad of Midsomer County is a captivating song that tells a tragic story of a young man named John Henry who falls in love with a beautiful maiden in Midsomer County, but ends up being trapped and killed by her. The song starts with the singer inviting the audience to listen to the tale, prompting them to sit down and pay attention. The setting is in Midsomer County, where John Henry meets the fair maiden while out hunting. She is described as having pale skin, blue eyes, and a garland of flowers on her head. John Henry is served ale, supper, eggs, and eels by the maiden, and she offers to let him stay with her in Midsomer County. However, John Henry declines, stating that he is engaged to another and must be married shortly. The maiden becomes angry and kills him, and the song ends with a warning to young men not to stray, lest they meet the same fate as John Henry.
Line by Line Meaning
Come sit by me all you
Fine Lords and Laddies
And I'll tell you the tale
Of young John Henry
He met a fair maiden
One bright May morning
Whence he went a-hunting
In Midsomer County
Listen to me, gentlemen, as I narrate the story of a man named John Henry who fell in love with a beautiful girl he met on a hunting trip in Midsomer County in May.
Pale was the skin
Of the Midsomer maiden
Blue were her eyes
As blue as the sea
And on her fair head
Lay a garland of flowers
Sweet were the roses
Of Midsomer County
The girl John met had a fair complexion, blue eyes like the sea, and wore a garland of flowers on her head. The roses in Midsomer County were also very sweet.
Young men don't stray
This maiden will lead you away
Ta da-da-da
Beware, young men; this girl will lead you astray, as evidenced by the threatening tune heard in the background.
She brought him ale
And she brought him supper
Fresh eggs and live eels
For young John Henry
She said, "Eat your fill
And when you are sated
You'll stay with me here
In Midsomer County"
The girl treated John to ale, supper of fresh eggs and eels, and requested him to stay in Midsomer County once he is full.
"Alas I cannot stay"
Said young John Henry
"I am bound to another
And soon married I'll be
I thank thee for supper
My kind and fair maiden
But now I must leave here
Midsomer County"
John expressed his inability to stay as he is engaged to another woman. He thanked her for the hospitality and announced his departure from Midsomer County.
Up went the cry
Of the Midsomer maiden
"For shame and for shame
For you have tricked me
You're bound to me now
And I am your lover
I swear you'll not leave here
Midsomer County"
The girl cried out in anguish, accusing John of tricking her, and expressed her desire to have him stay as her lover. She swore he would be bound to her in Midsomer County and wouldn't be allowed to leave.
Cold was the blade
Of the Midsomer maiden
Soft was the neck
Of young John Henry
Warm was the blood
That flowed from his body
Red as the roses
Of Midsomer County
The song takes a dark turn as the girl uses a knife to prevent John from leaving, killing him in the process. She is described as having a cold blade while John's neck was soft, and his blood spilt red like the roses from earlier.
Oh, young men don't stray
This maiden will lead you away
Ta da-da-da
The song ends with a warning to young men that this girl is dangerous and can lead them to their doom.
Writer(s): Paul Logue, Seth Lakeman
Contributed by Caden O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@DanceBeforeTheStorm_
Casually watching Midsomer Murders and all of a sudden I hear the voice of Seth Lakeman? Wow, what a wonderful surprise!
I had to abandon the TV and come here to give it a good listen.
Hauntingly beautiful as almost everything he does. Great duet. ❤
@leavingitblank9363
That wasn't Seth Lakeman's voice. He only put the lyrics to the music and accompanied on fiddle.
@robertblazek4902
Shockingly good for a song custom-written to serve a mere detective-story episode...
@dollcefina
I know, right?? Unbelievably good!! 🙀
@markpettis2896
Spoiler alert Right but sadly you don’t hear her sing the whole song at the end of the show but here you do thank goodness and thank you Silva So much
@danielmaxwell9338
Look up Marginal Love. It was the center of a murder on DCI Banks
@Azya08
I didn't use to watch this TV but I Saw the episod and I'm still obsessed by this song 🥲❤️
@leavingitblank9363
@@markpettis2896Actually, it's not even the full song here. There are another four stanzas she left out.
@richardloyalfrench1130
"The Ballad of Midsomer County" is One of my favorite "Midsomer Murders" episodes -- love this song!
@ivanaandric5703
I got goosebumps listening to this song. Shockingly good, can't stop listening