#242 - I'm Just Going Down By The Gate

Composer:
- Joseph P. Skelly
  (1853-1895), 1882
Also known as:
- I'm Just Going Down To The Gate
- Only As Far As The Gate [Dear Ma]
- My Sweetheart's A Sly Little Fairy
MIDI | show
Incipit: 53317665112351716273317665112356721
Condensed Incipit: 53176512351716273176512356721
Print a Label
Lyrics:
My sweetheart's a sly little fairy,
Her age it is just seventeen,
Her parents think she is too airy,
But a sweeter girl ever was seen.
At night she steals out of the cottage,
Her mother cries after her, “Kate.”
She answers, “Dear Ma, I'm not going far.
I'm just going down to the gate!”

chorus:
I'm just going down to the gate, dear Ma,
Just down to the old garden gate,
The moon is so bright and it's such a nice night,
I'll just go as far as the gate.

Of course, at the gate I am waiting,
And sweet are the words that we say,
While inside the old folks are debating,
As to whether they'll move first of May.
Sometimes they call gently for Katie,
She answers, “Dear Ma, 'tis not late,
There's no sign of storm,
And the night is so warm,
I love to stand here by the gate!”

They say she's too young to be married,
But with them we do not agree;
Love's message to Katie I carried,
And a kiss was the answer for me!
We'll wander alone in the moonlight,
Much longer I'm sure we can't wait,
Some night, by and by, to the preacher's we'll fly,
When Katie comes down to the gate!
- Augustus (Gus) Williams
  (1847-1915), 1882