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I Was A Young Man Lyrics by Martin Carthy

Shearwater

1972

I was a young man, I was a rover,
Nothing would satisfy me but a wife.
Soon as I reached the age of twenty
Weary was I of a single life.
The very first year my wife I married,
Out of her company I could not stay.
Her voice was sweet as the lark or the linnet
Or the nightingale at the break of day.
Now she's fairly altered her meaning,
Now she's fairly changed her tune.
Nothing but scolding comes from her mouth
So the poor man's labour's never done.
The very first year that we were married
Scarce could I get one half hour's sleep.
With her two heels she rubbed my shins,
Cries, "Husband dear, put down your feet."
The baby cried, she bitterly scolded,
Down to the door I was forced for to run.
Without trousers, wig or a waistcoat,
The poor man's labour's never done.
I went up to the top of the hill
For to view my sheep that had all gone astray.
When I came back she was lying in her bed
At twelve o'clock on a winter's day.
When I came back both wet and weary,
Weary and wet, now where could I run?
She was lying in her bed, the fire up beside her,
She said, "Young man, is the kettle on?"
I'll go home to my aged mother,
She'll be sitting all alone;
Says there's plenty young women to be had
Why should I be tied to one?
All young men that is to marry
Though they'll grieve you ever more,
Death o death, come take my wife
And then my sorrows will be o'er.
Credits
Martin Carthy

Martin Carthy

About “I Was A Young Man” by Martin Carthy

Read the complete lyrics to "I Was A Young Man" by Martin Carthy from the album "Shearwater" in 1972. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Non-Music, British Folk.

"I Was A Young Man" is performed by Martin Carthy. from the album "Shearwater" in 1972 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "I Was A Young Man", explore more songs by Martin Carthy using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"I Was A Young Man" is credited to Martin Carthy. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"I Was A Young Man" appears on "Shearwater" in 1972.

Visit the Martin Carthy artist page at /artist/martin-carthy for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.