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I'll sing you a song about two lovers, oh, from Lichfield town they came;
The young man's name was William Taylor, Sarah Grey was the lady's name.
William Taylor he has 'listed, for a soldier he has gone.
He's gone and left his own true lover for to weep and for to mourn.
Sarah's parents did despise her, filled her heart with grief and woe,
So then at last she's vowed and told them for a soldier she would go.
She dressed herself in man's apparel, man's apparel she's put on,
Then for to seek her own true lover, for to seek him she has gone.
One day as she was exercising, exercising, one, two, three,
A silver chain pulled down her waistcoat, and exposed her lily-white breast.
The sergeant-major stepped up to her, asking her what brought her here,
"I've come to seek for my true lover, who has proved to me severe."
"If you've come to seek for your true lover, I pray you, tell to me his name."
"His name it is bold William Taylor, oh, from Lichfield town he came."
"Well, if his name be William Taylor, William Taylor is not here,
He's lately married a rich young lady, worth ten thousand pounds a year.
But if you rise early in the morning, just before the break of day,
Right here you'll find bold William Taylor, walking out with his lady gay.
So she rose early in the morning, just before the break of day,
Right there she spied bold William Taylor, walking out with his lady gay.
So then she's called for a sword and a pistol, which were brought at her command,
She fired and shot bold William Taylor, with his lady at his right hand.
Then the captain stepped up to her, pleased well at what she's done;
He's gone and made her a bold commander, over a ship and all its men.
So, come all young men from Wells and London, if 'twere served the same as she,
It's very sad would be young women: very scarce young men would be.
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