The Rolling of the Stones

By Anonymous

16th Century


Child Ballad 49

Will you go to the rolling of the stones
Or the dancing of the ball?
Or will you go and see pretty Susie
And dance among them all
I will not go to the rolling of the stones
Or the tossing of the ball
But I will go and see pretty Susie
And dance among them all
They hadn't danced but a single dance
More than once or twice around
Before the sword at her true love's side
Gave him his fatal wound
They picked him up and carried him away
For he was sore distressed
They carried him and buried him all
         in the greenwoods
Where he was wont to rest
Pretty Susie she came awandering by
With a tablet under her arm
Until she came to her true love's grave
And she began to charm
She charmed the fish out of the sea
And the birds out of their nests
She charmed her true love out of his grave
So he could no longer rest
Will you go to the rolling of the stones
Or the dancing of the ball?
Or will you go and see pretty Susie
And dance among them all
I will not go to the rolling of the stones
Or the tossing of the ball
But I will go and see pretty Susie
And dance among them all

DayPoems Poem No. 2565
<a href="http://www.daypoems.net/poems/2565.html">The Rolling of the Stones by Anonymous</a>

The DayPoems Poetry Collection, www.daypoems.net
Timothy Bovee, editor

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