"The Snow it Melts the Soonest" (also called "The Snows They Melt the Soonest") is an English folk song first published in Blackwood's Magazine in 1821, and popularized in the 1960s by folk singer Anne Briggs.[1] The Longest Johns released their version on their 2013 EP Christmas at Sea.
Lyrics[]
(As performed on the Christmas at Sea EP)
O, the snow it melts the soonest when the winds begin to sing
And the corn it ripens fastest when the frosts are setting in
And when a woman tells me that my face she'll soon forget
Before we part, I wage a crown, she's fain to follow't yet
O, the snow it melts the soonest when the winds begin to sing
And the swallow skims without a thought as long as it is spring
But when spring goes, and winter blows, my lass, an ye'll be fain
For all your pride, to follow me, were't cross the stormy main
O, the snow it melts the soonest when the winds begin to sing
And the bee that flew when summer shined, in winter cannot sting
I've seen a woman's anger melt betwixt the night and morn
O, it's surely not a harder thing to tame a woman's scorn
O, never say me farewell dear, no farewell I'll receive
For you shall set me to the stile, and kiss and take your leave
But I'll wait here 'til the woodcock comes and the martlet takes his wing
Since the snow aye melts the soonest, lass, when the winds begin to sing