Eighteen Years Old - Cara Dillon

I’m eighteen years old today, mama, and I’m longing to be wed

So buy for me a young man to comfort me, she said

You must buy for me a young man who will stay with me all night

And I’ll roll him in my arms

He’ll be my heart’s delight

Ah, hold your tongue, dear daughter then or your folds I will pull down

Your silks and satins I will pull down, you must wear your morning gown

I’ll send you to the meadows for to rake and mow the hay

With your pike and shaft all in your hand

You must earn your drink and take

Ah, hold your tongue, dear daughter then, I was forty before I wed

Although it was late, I thought it no weight to carry my maidenhead

Well that may be the way with you, mama, but it isn’t the way with me

For I’m young and airy, light and crazy and married I long to be

Ah, hold your tongue, dear daughter then and I’ll buy for you a man

A man for me?

Oh, mother, she said, you must hasten, you must you can

The sooner the better, oh mother, she said, you must hasten a man to me

For I’m young and airy, light and contrary

And married I long to be