Ralph McTell
Girl From The Hiring Fair

Em                 C            G              D
I went down to the hiring fair, for to sell my labour, 
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and I noticed a maid in the very next row and I hoped that sheâ??d be my 
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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 Iâ??d watch her carry water or drive cows from the byre,
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And the heat from the sun made the corn grow strong and with it my desire

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     Em           C            G            D
Iâ??d see her in my dreaming and in my dreams caress.
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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.
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   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 sheâ??d hear my 
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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.


G / D / Em / C  D / G / C  Em / C / Em / C / Em / C


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