All Fours
As I was a-walking one fine summer’s morning,
It happened to be on a sunshiny day;
And there I behold a most beautiful damsel,
As she was a-walking all on the highway. As sung by Hyram Brazil, Gloucester 20 Apr 1966 (Springthyme 66.4.1). Also Danny Brazil,
Gloucester (66.4.30). In: Shepheard, Peter. Folk Songs and Ballads of the Brazil Family of Gloucester (1967).
As I was a-walking one fine summer’s morning,
It happened to be on a sunshiny day;
And there I behold a most beautiful damsel,
As she was a-walking all on the highway.
For I says, “My pretty fair maid, oh where are you going?
And may I fall in with your sweet company?”
She turned herself round and she gazèd down on me,
Saying, “Yes then kind sir, you may walk if you please.”
For we had not a-walked but a few miles together,
Before she began with her wanton ways;
She come set herself down and I sat by the side of her,
Saying, “The game I shall play you shall be at All Fours;
For the game I will play you will be at All Fours,
And then love I’ll beat you down two hands to one.”
For I shuffled the cards it was her time to deal them,
For I did not hold but one trump it was the Jack;
For she had got the Ace and the Deuce for to play with,
You commonly call the best cards in the pack.
For she led off the Ace and she stole the Jack from me,
And that made her High Low Jack and the Game;
She says, “Then kind sir, so fairly I beat you,
As you can not play the game over again.”
Well I picked up my hat wished that fair maid good morning,
As since she got High Low Jack and the Game;
I says, “My pretty fair maid I’ll be this way tomorrow,
And then love we’ll play the game over again.”
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