The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

A Fairy Lullaby

I left my baby lying here,
Lying here, lying here.
I left my baby lying here,
To go and gather blackberries.

Chorus:
Hovan, Hovan gonny ago.
Gonny ago, gonny ago.
Hovan, Hovan, gonny ago.
I've lost my darling baby o.

I traced the otter on the lake,
On yonder lake, on yonder lake.
I traced the otter on the lake,
But could not trace my baby o.

I traced the little yellow faun
The yellow faun, the yellow faun.
I traced the little yellow faun.
But could not trace my baby o.

I traced the mist on yonder ben,
On yonder ben, on yonder ben.
The mountain mist I traced, but then,
I could not trace my baby o.

Submitter comment:

The informant heard this from a Scottish girl who is now living in Mexico.

Where learned: informant's home