Long-A-Growing
as i was walking by yonder church wall.
i saw four and twenty young men a-playing at the ball.
i asked for my own true love but they wouldn't let him come.
for they said the boy was young but a-growing.
father dear father you've done me much wrong.
you've tied me to a boy when you know he is too young.
but he will make a lord for you to wait upon.
and a lady you will be while he's growing.
we'll send him to college for one year or two.
and maybe in time the boy will do for you.
i'll buy you white ribbons to tie around his waist.
for to let the ladies know that he's married.
the trees they do grow high and the leaves they do grow green.
the day is passed and gone my love that you and i have seen.
it's on a cold winter's night that i must lie alone.
for the bonny boy is young but a-growing.
at the age of sixteen he was a married man.
and at the age of seventeen the father to a son.
and at the age of eighteen his grave it did grow green.
cruel dead had put an end to his growing.
Creciendo sin parar
Mientras caminaba junto al muro de la iglesia,
vi a veinticuatro jóvenes jugando a la pelota.
Pregunté por mi verdadero amor, pero no lo dejaron venir,
pues dijeron que el chico era joven pero creciendo.
Padre querido, me has hecho mucho daño,
me has comprometido con un chico sabiendo que es muy joven.
Pero él se convertirá en un lord al que servir,
y tú serás una dama mientras él crece.
Lo enviaremos a la universidad por uno o dos años,
y tal vez con el tiempo el chico será para ti.
Te compraré cintas blancas para atar alrededor de su cintura,
para que las damas sepan que está casado.
Los árboles crecen alto y las hojas se vuelven verdes,
el día ha pasado y se ha ido, mi amor, que tú y yo hemos visto.
Es en una fría noche de invierno que debo estar sola,
pues el chico bonito es joven pero creciendo.
A los dieciséis años ya era un hombre casado,
y a los diecisiete, padre de un hijo.
Y a los dieciocho, su tumba se volvió verde,
el cruel destino puso fin a su crecimiento.