PROPS GO TO: Caitlin Freeman

The Snows They Melt The Soonest

The [Am]snows they melt the [Em]soonest when the [Am]wind [Em]begins to [Am]sing
And the [Em]corn it ripens fastest [Am]when the [D]frosts are settling in
And [Am]when a woman [Em]tells me [Am]that my [D]face she'll [Em]soon forget [Dm]
Be[Am]fore we part I'll wage a [Dm]crown she's [Am]fain to [Em]follow it [Am]yet

The [Am]snows they melt the [Em]soonest when the [Am]wind [Em]begins to [Am]sing
And the [Em]swallow flies without a [Am]thought as [D]long as it is spring
But [Am]when spring goes and [Em]winter [Am]blows, my [D]love, then [Em]you'll be fain[Dm]
For [Am]all your pride to follow [Dm]me a[Am]cross the [Em]raging [Am]main

The [Am]snows they melt the [Em]soonest when the [Am]wind [Em]begins to [Am]sing
And the [Em]bee that flew when summer [Am]shone in [D]winter cannot sting
And I've [Am]seen a woman's [Em]anger [Am]melt be[D]tween the [Em]night and morn [Dm]
So it's [Am]surely not a harder [Dm]thing to [Am]melt a [Em]woman's [Am]scorn

So [Am]bid me not fare[Em]well, you hear, [Am]nor fare[Em]well I'll re[Am]ceive
For [Em]you will be with me, my [Am]love, then you?ll [D]kiss and take your leave
And I'll [Am]wait here till the [Em]moorcock [Am]calls and the [D]marten [Em]takes the wing[Dm]
For the [Am]snows they melt the soonest [Dm]when the [Am]wind be[Em]gins to [Am]sing


NOTE: I?ve taken the above lyrics from Susan McKeown?s ?Lowlands? CD. The version that she sings on her album is in F#m, however I have transposed it to Am for ease of playing and singing (unless you're an alto or a bass/baritone, the key may be too low). If you wish to play it in F#m, the chords you?ll need are: F#m, C#m, B, Bm. You can find alternate lyrics, as well as the original ones (which I?ve also included below), at: http://www.maidmusic.com/snows.html.

Enjoy!

-Caitlin


Original Lyrics

The Snow It Melts The Soonest

O, the snow it melts the soonest when the winds begin to sing;
And the corn it ripens fastest when the frosts are setting in;
And when a woman tells me that my face she'll soon forget,
Before we part, I wad a crown, she's fain to follow't yet.

The snow it melts the soonest when the wind begins to sing;
And the swallow skims without a thought as long as it is spring;
But when spring goes, and winter blows, my lass, an ye'll be fain,
For all your pride, to follow me, were't cross the stormy main.

O, the snow it melts the soonest when the wind begins to sing;
The bee that flew when summer shined, in winter cannot sting;-
I've seen a woman's anger melt between the night and morn,
And it's surely not a harder thing to tame a woman's scorn.

O, never say me farewell here -no farewell I'll receive,
For you shall set me to the stile, and kiss and take your leave;
But I'll stay here till the woodcock comes, and the martlet takes his wing,
Since the snow aye melts the soonest, lass, when the wind begins to sing.

Lyrics collected by Thomas Doubleday in 1821 from a street singer in Newcastle, England