My love was a lady loyalist
Gold curls and innocent eyes
My love was a gentle soul
When I first beheld her
On a summer eve
My fife I played by her garden
As she strolled through it that night
And when she paused to listen
Looking over the wall at me
I swore she was an angel
I played her songs every dusk
Waiting for her to gaze at me
She smiled at me while complaining
That I had entranced her
I would smile, too
My love was not my only solace
I played for money at the inn
Chance happened I heard them talking
About freedom to do and play
What'ver I wished
I missed my times with my sweet
For my fife was needed elsewhere
While she waited by her wall
I played new tunes
Tunes that angered ol' George
He sent his soldiers into my land
To silence my fife and my voice
But he missed me, for I
Was playing to my love
My lady loyalist
When I thought our love was strong
I played her my new songs
But she, aghast, ran from me
And ne'er again did I see her eyes
Peek over the wall
Grief and bitterness sent me to my inn
I swore to avenge my love
For an old man had stole her from me
An old knave who lived o'er the sea
Who would not let me play my fife
My name was signed
I swung my musket over my shoulder
And marched with my friends
Beside the drums
My fife at my lips
I want to play my fife to musket-balls
Fighting for freedom my way
As canons and drums keep beat
Play away my life
Before the king who stole my love
They say I am wounded and shall die
They say not to get my fife
They say I am mad
And I very well may be
Since the Brits stole my fife from me
I lift the instrument to my lips
To play a deathly song
As my breath fades in wisps
My vision blurs
But I will e'er play my song
I imagine my love is waiting
Beyond the wall I hide behind
That she will look over as my song dies
And pity my soul with one last kiss
As I melt into the night