Eliza And Martin Carthy - Her Servant Man lyrics

It's of a young damsel both fair and handsome These lines are true as I been told On the banks of Shannon in a lofty mansion Her father's claimed great stores of gold Her hair was black as the raven's feather Her form and features, dissemble who can There was a fella worked on the station She fell in love with that serving man As Mary-Anne and her lover were walking Her father heard them and nearer drew And as these two lovers were truly walking In anger home her father flew To build a dungeon was his intention To part true lovers, contrive a plan He swore an oath and vowed to mention He'd part his daughter from her serving man So he built him a dungeon of bricks and mortar With a flight of steps it was underground The food that he gave her was bread and water And only a chair for her was found Three times a day he cruelly beat her Until at length she in anger sang "If I have transgressed, my own dear father I'll live and die for my serving man" Young Edwin found her habitation Was well secured by an iron door He vowed in spite of all the nation He'd gain her freedom or rest no more At the ground he soon got ready With pick and crowbar he soon began And with his plan he got in the dungeon And there he found his sweet Mary-Anne Soon as he found that his daughter had vanished Just like a lion her father roar He cried, "From Ireland I'll have you banished And with my broadsword I'll spill your gore" Then said young Edwin, "You see me ready For now I've found her, do all you can Forgive your daughter with a loyal pleasure The one to blame is your serving man" When the old man saw him so tender-hearted Straight he fell down on the dungeon floor Cries, "Surely true love will laugh at locksmiths? For love can break down an iron door"