RAK 01 Not I!
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Not I!
This is a traditional English folk ballad that I wrote in August 2013… We’d driven down through France and met up with Steve & Connie (&Les&Denny) in a hotel in Cognac before going off to visit friends in the Dordogne. We retired late after a good meal and plenty of wine but I woke up at about 3 a.m. with this going around in my head. I got out of bed and scribbled it down on a scrap of paper on the floor - by torchlight so as not to disturb Sheila! I worked out the picking when we got back to England.
RAK 01 Not I!
drop D…around Dm twiddle (written in the middle of the night in Cognac)
Dm G7 Dm
As I was walking lonely through the glade
Dm A7
A maiden fine and comely I did spy
Dm slide F Dm G7
She slipped along the path twixt light and shade
F G G7
And surely was most pleasing to the eye
F G Dm
And surely was most pleasing to the eye
Dm G7 Dm
I moved to cross her path as if by chance
A7
And with these words to her my luck did try
Dm slide F Dm G7
Are you afeared within these woods to dance
F G G7
And she replied most boldly no,not I
F G Dm
And she replied most boldly no,not I
Dm G7 Dm
Not I, not I, not I, not I, not I,
F G Dm
And she replied most boldly no,not I
I took her where the moss grew soft and clean
And laid her down without a second thought
And she was willing, aye and far from green
So there for half a day we took our sport
And when I rose refreshed as if from sleep
She said good sir I hope you will not fly
For now you’ve had your way you must me keep
And I replied dear lady no, not I
Not I, not I, not I, not I, not I,
And I replied dear lady no, not I (instrumental verse & sung chorus)
Then some time later walking through the town
I saw a lady fine come riding through
Bedecked in jewels and flowing, golden gown
Yet clearly that same maid that I once knew
I cried out, as my heart it took the rule
You are my maid , let’s have another try
She gave a glance that set me for a fool
She laughed you are mistaken sir, not I
Not I, not I, not I, not I, not I,She laughed you are mistaken sir, not I