By the side of the Zuyder Zee

AKA The side of the Zuyder Zee
First Published 1906
Writer/composer AJ Mills and Bennett Scott Roud RN43181

Music Hall Performers Annie Purcell, Albert Pearce, Maudi Darnell
Folk performances Collected from the singing of: none 

By the flowing Zuyder Zee so blue
There's a little Dutch girl I love so true
Of my little Gretchen dear, I'm dreaming all day
She's a picture any one would choose
In her pretty frock and wooden shoes
I've seen other girls, but still my heart is far away.

By the side of the Zuyder Zee, Zuyder Zee, Zuyder Zee
There my Deitcher girl waits for me - only me
I've seen diamonds in Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Amsterdam
But there's not a diamond as bright as those eyes by the Zuyder Zee.

I had such a feeling around my heart
When there came a time we had to part
From my little Gretchen I was sailing away
As we stood upon the old Dutch shore
In her eyes of blue, big tears I saw
Standing on the big ship I could hear the wild waves say.

Some day by the dear old Zuyder Zee
With my little Gretchen I shall be
In a cosy cot far from the big city's whirl
When the stars are peeping in the skies
We will sing old Dutch lullabies
How I long to sail back to my little Deitcher girl.

In the early 20th century Halls there was a bit of a craze for songs about clog wearing “Deitcher girls” who lived by the Zuyder Zee. I have included some brief details of this song, written by AJ Mills and Bennett Scott, to make it clear it is not the same as the song Down by the Old Zuyder Zee (RN29879) collected by Roy Palmer from the singing of Frank Jones.

As far as I know this song has not passed into the repertoire of traditional singers.

A 1907 recording:

Sources:

  • Kilgarrif Sing Us
  • Lyrics: monologues.co.uk
  • Sheet Music: Bumper Book of Music Hall Songs
  • Sheet Music: personal copy