Vivien Richman

Listen to a Schmertz clip (at Smithsonian Folkways site)

Sweet Sally came across the sea
A long, long way from the Old Countree -
Promised that my bride she’d be
Come for to love and comfort me!

There’s never a man should live alone
In a cold stone house with a heart of stone
I’ve made a house from the white pine tree
For the one who will love and comfort me!

Change partners, circle round -
Circle round the one I found
Circle round sweet Sally Brown -
Prettiest gal in Pittsburgh Town!

A fine wide hearth and a high chimnee
A shiny kettle for the China tea
And a silken gown for the sweet lay-dee
Come for to love and comfort me!

A bachelor I no more will be
We will soon have children three
They’ll look just; like the sweet lay-dee
Come for to love and comfort me!

Change partners, circle round -
Circle round the one I found
Circle round sweet Sally Brown -
Prettiest gal in Pittsburgh Town!

Oh! We will soon have children six
Then we’ll build a house of bricks
Bricks and straw for the sweet lay-dee
Come for to love and comfort me!

And when I’m sure (that) she is mine
We will soon have children nine
An even dozen there may be
If she stays for to love and comfort me!

Change partners, circ1e round -
Circle round the one I found
Circle round sweet sally Brown -
Prettiest gal in Pittsburgh Town!

Sheep in the valley and pigs in the corn
A cow in the meadow and a horse in the barn
And a pear and an apple and a cherry tree
For the one who will love and comfort me!

And if the Lord lets us grow old
We’ll have no fear of the wind and cold
I’ll sit close by my sweet lay-dee
Come for to love and comfort me!

Change partners, circle round -
Circle round the one I found
Circle round sweet Sally Brown -
Prettiest gal in Pittsburgh Town!