7. Shallow Brown
I couldn’t leave the hold, and the stench smothered me like a blanket. I felt the razor-sharp pins on their chins cut me in pricks. I bled and the room became darker and lighter and then darker and lighter. I wrote on the wall. I counted days. I sang songs to myself.
What songs did you sing?
The story of my life. How I was born and brought up.
Can you sing me that song?
I am singing it.
From: Land of Dreams, Chapter One
Words: Trad arr Harding
Music: sung by Mr. John Perring at Dartmouth, January 1908, noted by H.E. Piggott and Percy Grainger in The Journal of The Folk-Song Society #12

Shallow Brown
(words: Trad Arr Harding)

Shallow Brown, you’re going to leave me
Shallow, Shallow Brown
Shallow Brown, you’re going to leave me
Shallow, Shallow Brown

Shallow Brown, don’t you deceive me
Shallow, Shallow Brown
Shallow Brown, don’t you deceive me
Shallow, Shallow Brown

You’re going away across the ocean
Shallow, Shallow Brown
You’re going away across the ocean
Shallow, Shallow Brown

And will you climb them distant mountains?
Shallow, Shallow brown
Try to find them crystal fountains?
Shallow, Shallow brown

You said I love you Juliana
Shallow oh shallow brown
I truly love you Juliana
Shallow oh shallow brown

You’ll always be my heart’s devotion
Shallow, Shallow Brown
You’ll always be my heart’s devotion
Shallow, Shallow Brown

For your return my heart is burning
Shallow, Shallow Brown
For your return my heart is burning
Shallow, Shallow Brown

When you return, we will get married
Shallow, Shallow Brown
When you return, we will get married
Shallow, Shallow Brown

Shallow Brown, you’re going to leave me
Shallow, Shallow Brown
Shallow Brown, you’re going to leave me
Shallow, Shallow Brown