Ralph McTell - The Girl From the Hiring Fair lyrics

I went down to the hiring fair
For to sell my labour
And I noticed a maid in the very next
Row and I hoped she'd be my neighbour
Imagine then my delight when the
Farmer picked us both
I spoke not a word in the cart to the farm
But my heart beat in my throat

My lodging was dry and my master fair
And I gave him full measure
But my envy grew like the corn in the
Field for in his house was my treasure
And I'd watch her carry water
Or drive cows from the byre
And the heat from the sun made the corn
Grow strong and with it my desire

Well I'd see her in my dreaming
And in my dreams caress
Her eyes, her lips and her dark brown hair
The curves beneath her dress
But harvest time it came at last
So heavy was the task
That the women and the men worked side by
Side and I had her near at last

And I swung harder with my scythe
Few words between us passed
And I cursed my tongue-tied
Youthfulness and I
Hoped that she'd hear my heart
When all was safely gathered in and
We sat down to rest
My trembling fingers touched her arm
And she placed them on her breast

And then she turned to me as the sun
Went down and all my senses reeled
As we lay there on the scented ground
And the moon rose over the field

She was safely gathered in my
Arms when from the barn
Drifted the sound of a violin and
We hurried back to the farm
And all were dancing in the lantern
Light and music filled the air
And I thanked my stars for the harvest moon
And the girl from the hiring fair

Oh all were dancing in the lantern
Light and music filled the air
And I thanked my stars for the harvest moon
And the girl from the hiring fair