This version is from Lena Bourne Fish. Lena was born in1873 in Black Brook, NY and collected hundreds of songs from New York and New England.
Dan Milner asked me to record this version for a compendium of Irish musin in the U.S., published by Folk Legacy. I had sung a version more common in America (Matt Hyland) for decades, and Cathal McConnell had taught me his version, but I loved this one too, and was happy to record it.
Lena sang it a capella, so you might want to forgive the twelve-string that snuck in there when I wasn't looking. Also, in the words: "This lady gay in anguish lay" __ Cathal sang "ambush", as did Lena. Wish I had.
Tom Cantlin recorded my singing of it at my house.
There was a lord, lived in this town
Who had a fair and comely daughter
She fell in love with a young man
Who was a servant to her father
When the old lord came this to know
He swore the boy should leave this island
The lady said her heart should break
If she should part from young Mathyland
The lord unto his lady said
One night within their lonely chamber
No young Math Island I'll transport
For I fear our daughter is in danger
This lady gay in ambush lay
For grief so great she lay repining
She said, My father I'll deceive
And I shall wed my young Math Island
She went unto her lover's bedside
Commanding him for to awaken
Arise my love and go away
Or else this night you will be taken
The lord unto his daughter said
I did not know how much you loved him
I give you leave to bring him back
For there is none you prize above him
They had a wedding so they say
The gayest one in all the island
They went to church and then straightway,
They made a lord of young Mathyland