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Oh,John Joe was a farmer’s son.
- He lived up in the hills
- When he went to tend his sheep
- He saw the cotton mills.
- The rivers ran with water pure
- And so provided power
- Yet over these dark ruined towns
- The heathered hills did tower.
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Mary was a local girl
- Se walked out on the moors
- She wore a dress of silky cloth
- Printed with small flowers.
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John Joe saw Mary
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When he was dipping sheep
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She peered over a dry stone wall
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And saw the new lambs leap.
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Her hair was long.Her hair was gold
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Her eyes were sapphire blue.
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In John Joe’s eyes she was so fair
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What was a man to do?
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He watched her walking all alone
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Was she sad or sick?
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He showed her how his dog behaved
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And showed her shepherds’ tricks.
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So one day,he held her hand
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As they walked to the Pike.
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They stood up there and gazed all round
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So John thought he would strike.
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He bent down on his right knee
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And spoke to Mary then.
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I’ve loved you Mary since we met
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I hoped we’d meet again
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Mary smiled with her blue eyes;
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Her lips were pink and bright.
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I love you too and love the hills
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And. love the summer light.
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The next year they were married
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Mary wore white lace.
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She looked so happy then
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To know she’d her own place.
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The church bells rang,the people sang
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John and Mary wed!
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And naturally, when evening came,
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At last, they went to bed.
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When Mary lay in John Joe’s arms
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She knew this was her home.
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And so for many, many years
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About the hills they roamed.
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They cared for sheep and hens and goats
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They cared for children three.
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They never had a falling out…
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But talked beneath a tree.
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From youth to age the years went by
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But John still loved his bride.
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And Mary too was happy
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With John Joe by her side.
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Their faces,lined, were full of cheer
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Their hair as white as snow
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And everywhere that JJ went
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Mary too did go.
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Until the day came for his death
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He lay down in the grass
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Mary ran and held him close
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And thus sweet John did pass.
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The muffled bells rang from the tower
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John Joe was carried in.
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The parson prayed and hymns were sung.
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The sheep dog made a din.,
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In the dark earth John was laid
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And Mary wept and cried.
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what will I do now,my sweet John ,
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without you by my side?
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So Mary grieved and wept and sighed
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And thus she spent two years…
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The loss was great and bent her back
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with the weight of care.
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For when we open up our hearts
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We feel both joy and woe.
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This is the pattern of our love,
- Which like the river flows
He bent down on his right knee
Published
How my heart sings 