Cold Haily Windy Night

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One of many ‘night visiting’ songs to be found in the traditional repertoires of Europe and North America. A soldier seeks an invitation into the bedroom of a young woman on the pretense of seeking shelter from the weather. However, once his ulterior motive has been fulfilled he departs abruptly, leaving her alone with the consequences of their encounter, cursing the rainy night. Our version is based on one popularised by Martin Carthy, which was collected by Baring-Gould in South West England in the 19th century, albeit with some innovations of our own.

Jake Rowlinson (Vocals) // Jeremy Bunting (Bodhran, Backing Vocals) // Fran Rowney (Piano Accordion, Backing Vocals)

LYRICS

Oh, my hat, it is frozen to my head
My feet, they are like two lumps of lead
Oh, my shoes, they are frozen to my feet
With standing at your window

“Let me in”, the soldier cried
“Cold, haily, windy night, oh”
“Let me in”, the soldier cried
“For I’ll not go back again, no”

My father watches down on the street
My mother, the chamber keys do keep
Oh the doors and windows, they do creek
I dare not let you in, no

“Let me in”, the soldier cried
“Cold, haily, windy night, oh”
“Let me in”, the soldier cried
“For I’ll not go back again, no”

Oh, and she’s rose up and she’s let him in
She’s kissed her true love cheek and chin
And she’s drawn him between the sheets again
She’s opened and she’s let him in, oh

Then she has blessed the rainy night
Cold, haily, windy night, oh
Oh, then she has blessed the rainy night
That she’s opened and she let him in, oh

“Soldier, soldier, stay with me
Soldier, soldier, won’t you marry me oh?”
“No, no, no it never can be
So fare thee well forever”

And then she has wept for the rainy night
Cold, haily, windy night, oh
Then she has wept for the rainy night
That she’s opened and she’s let him in, oh

Oh and he’s got up out of the bed
He’s put his hat all on his head
For he’s took off her maidenhead
Her mother, she heard the din, oh

And then she has cursed the rainy night
Cold haily, windy night, oh
Then she has cursed the rainy night
That she opened and she let him in, oh

Traditional

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