Ralph McTell – Girl From The Hiring Fair (Guitar)

Em                 C            G              D
I went down to the hiring fair, for to sell my labour, 

      Em                    C                  Bm                            
and I noticed a maid in the very next row and I hoped that she'd be my 

C
neighbour.

  G             D                  Em                C        D
Imagine then o my delight when the farmer picked us both.

     G                    C            Em               D           Em      C
I spoke not a word in the cart to the farm but my heart beat in my throat.

   Em                     C               G                D
My lodging was dry and my master fair and I gave him full measure,

       Em                 C                     Bm                   C
But my envy grew like the corn in the field for in his house was my treasure.

       G                D        Em                   C        D
And I'd watch her carry water or drive cows from the byre,

        G                          C         Em                 D   Em  
And the heat from the sun made the corn grow strong and with it my desire

     Em           C            G            D
I'd see her in my dreaming and in my dreams caress.

    Em                    C                   Bm                 C
Her eyes her lips and her dark brown hair the curves beneath her dress.

     G               D               Em            C         D
When harvest time it came at last so heavy was the task 

         G                        C       Em                 D       Em 
That the women and the men worked side by side and I had her near at last.

   Em             C                  G                D
So I swung harder with my scythe few words between us passed,

      Em                    C                  Bm            
And I cursed my tongue tied youthfulness and I hoped that she'd hear my 

C
heart.

     G              D               Em             C         D
When all was safely gathered in and we sat down to rest

   G                 C           Em                      D      Em       C     
My trembling fingers touched her arm and she placed them on her breast.

        Em                  C                 G             D
And she turned to me as the sun went down and all my senses reeled,

      Em               C                      Bm                 C
As we lay there on the scented ground and the moon rose over the field.

Em             C              G                  D
She was safely gathered in my arms when from the barn

Em                       C             Bm                  C
Drifted the sound of the violin and we hurried back to the farm.

    G                       D                 Em               C       D
And all were dancing in the lantern light and music filled the air

      G                        C       Em                         D        
And I thanked my stars for the harvest moon and the girl from the hiring

Em      C      Em      C
fair.

    G                       D                 Em               C     D
And all were dancing in the lantern light and music filled the air,

      G                        C       Em                          D         
And I thanked my stars for the harvest moon, and the girl from the hiring 

Em     C     Em     C     Em     C
fair.