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A Long Time A-Growing 1

(Young But Daily Growing / The Trees They Do Grow So High)

Traditional, Irish Folk Song


May 1961
THE MINNESOTA TAPES (T-318)
THE MINNEAPOLIS PARTY TAPE (BD Archive)

Minnesota Party tape 1961, Minneapolis MN - May 1961  

Oh the trees they grow tall and the leaves they are green.
And many a time my true love i've seen.
And many a night how I walked all alone
When my Johnny was a long time a-growin'.

I remember so well over my father's wall
I heard the boys a-singin', i could hear them dancin' call
And my own true love was the fairest of them all
He's young but he's daily a-growin'.

Oh father, dear father, you've done me great wrong
You've married me off to a boy that's much too young
Oh, I am twice twelve, and he's but fourteen
He's young but he's daily growin'.

Oh daughter, dear daughter, I have done you no wrong
I've married you to a rich man's son
For he will be a lord for you to wait upon
Yes, he's young but he's daily a-growin'.

At the age of fourteen he was a married man
At the age of fifteen the father of a son
At the age of sixteen, his grave it was green
And death put a stop to his growin'.

But he born me one son, so i can pass the time
Watchin' my boy rise to grow a year
An' I will watch him rise till he's become a man.
He's young now but he's daily a-growin'. 
    

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A Long Time A-Growing 2


4 Nov 1961
CARNEGIE CHAPTER HALL 1961 (BD Archive)
HARD TIMES IN NEW YORK CITY (T-518)
THE DYLAN'S ROOT (T-101)

Carnegie Chapter Hall, NYC - 4.nov.1961  

Oh the trees they do grow tall an' the leaves are green
And there's many a day that you an' I have seen
But once I had a true love, but now I walk alone
He's a bonnie lad, he's daily growing.

Oh, father, dearest father, you've done me great wrong
You've married me to a boy who is much too young
Oh, I'm twice twelve, an' he's but fourteen.
He's a bonnie lad, he's young but he's growin'.

Oh, father, dearest father, oh ain't it pleased as you
I'll send my male to a school for a year or two
And don't talk of his college cap, he'll wear a ribbon ball
So that the other girls might know that he's married.

One day when I was walking all alone down by the school wall
I saw the boys were playin' at the bouncin' of the ball
An' my own true love was the fairest of them all
He's a bonnie lad, he's daily growing.

At the age of fourteen he was a married man
At the age of fifteen the father of a son
At the age of sixteen his grave, the grass grew green
Cruel death had put an end to his growin'.

I'll buy my love a shroud of ornamental ground
And place it on his grave, oh the tears come trippling down.
For once I had a true love but now I have not.
But I'll watch his bonnie son while he's a-growin'. 
    

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A Long Time A-Growing 3


May/Oct 1967
THE BASEMENT TAPES COMPLETE:
    THE BOOTLEG SERIES Vol. 11
A TREE WITH ROOTS (T-731)
THE GENUINE BASEMENT TAPES Vol. 1-2 (T-308)

The Basement Tapes - may/october 1967  

He's young but he's daily growin'.

Oh, daughter, dearest daughter, i have done you no wrong
I've wed you to none other than a wealthy man's son
An' he will be a man to you when I am dead and gone
He's young but he's daily growin'.

For out one day as I was walkin' all alone down by the school wall 
I saw the boys, they were playin' at the ball
And my own true love was the fairest of them all
He was young but he was daily growin'.

At the age of sixteen years, he was a married man
At the age of seventeen, he was the father of a son
At the age of eighteen years round his graves the grass grew long
Cruel death has put an end to his growin'.

Ah the springtime is leavin' now as summer's comin' on
With ornaments and fans, the ladies all pass on
Oh, it's once I had a true love, but now I have none
But I watch his bonnie son while he's growin'. 
    

Recording dates & record list

May 1961 1 THE MINNESOTA TAPES (bootleg)
THE MINNEAPOLIS PARTY TAPE
4 Nov 1961 2 CARNEGIE CHAPTER HALL 1961
THE DYLAN'S ROOT (bootleg)
HARD TIMES IN NEW YORK CITY (bootleg)
May/Oct 1967 3 THE BASEMENT TAPES COMPLETE: THE BOOTLEG SERIES Vol. 11
A TREE WITH ROOTS (bootleg)
THE GENUINE BASEMENT TAPES Vol. 1-2 (bootleg)