Name: Once I Knew a Pretty Girl
Duration: P00H02M39S
Description: This was one of the first songs I heard Joan Baez sing and I instantly fell in love with it, as the jilted lover laments that beautiful young women’s fading looks aren’t worth getting involved with. Its beautiful tune in the face of the singer’s shunning of beauty is an ironic slap in the face for him, as the beauty he now hates will never truly leave him.

Once I Knew a Pretty Girl

from On a Green Growing Tree by Alice Dillon

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about

This was one of the first songs I heard Joan Baez sing and I instantly fell in love with it, as the jilted lover laments that beautiful young women’s fading looks aren’t worth getting involved with. Its beautiful tune in the face of the singer’s shunning of beauty is an ironic slap in the face for him, as the beauty he now hates will never truly leave him.

lyrics

Once I knew a pretty girl,
I loved her as my life,
I'd gladly give my heart and hand,
To make her my wife,
Ooh, to make her my wife.

She took me by the hand,
She led me to the door,
She put her arms around me,
Saying, "Please don't come no more,"
Ooh, "Please, come no more."

Well, I'd not been gone but about six months,
When she did complain,
And she wrote me a letter,
Saying, "Please come back again,"
Ooh, "Please, come again."

So I sent her an answer,
Just for to let her know,
That no young man should venture,
Where once he could not go,
Ooh, Where once he could not go.

So come all you young lovers,
Take a warning from me,
And never hang your affections,
On a green, growing tree,
Ooh, on a green, growing tree.

For the leaves they will wither,
Roots will decay,
And the beauty of a young girl,
Will soon fade away,
Ooh, will soon fade away.

credits

from On a Green Growing Tree, released August 16, 2016
Traditional

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about

Alice Dillon Edinburgh, UK

A folk and traditional singer and guitarist based in Edinburgh. I was a semi-finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award 2016.
YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCs3dne0FG_83URM_QLbux5A
Website: alicedillonfolk.wordpress.com
Peerie Faeries: peeriefaeries.wordpress.com ... more

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