{"id":16581,"date":"2023-05-07T08:54:39","date_gmt":"2023-05-07T08:54:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=16581"},"modified":"2025-12-09T07:57:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T07:57:11","slug":"by-the-side-of-the-zuyder-zee","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/by-the-side-of-the-zuyder-zee\/","title":{"rendered":"By the side of the Zuyder Zee"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td>The side of the Zuyder Zee<\/td><\/tr>
First Published<\/td>1906<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Writer\/composer<\/td>AJ Mills and Bennett Scott<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN43181<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>Annie Purcell, Albert Pearce, Maudi Darnell<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Collected from the singing of:<\/strong> none<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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By the flowing Zuyder Zee so blue\nThere's a little Dutch girl I love so true\nOf my little Gretchen dear, I'm dreaming all day\nShe's a picture any one would choose\nIn her pretty frock and wooden shoes\nI've seen other girls, but still my heart is far away.\n\nBy the side of the Zuyder Zee, Zuyder Zee, Zuyder Zee\nThere my Deitcher girl waits for me - only me\nI've seen diamonds in Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Amsterdam\nBut there's not a diamond as bright as those eyes by the Zuyder Zee.<\/em>\n\nI had such a feeling around my heart\nWhen there came a time we had to part\nFrom my little Gretchen I was sailing away\nAs we stood upon the old Dutch shore\nIn her eyes of blue, big tears I saw\nStanding on the big ship I could hear the wild waves say.\n\nSome day by the dear old Zuyder Zee\nWith my little Gretchen I shall be\nIn a cosy cot far from the big city's whirl\nWhen the stars are peeping in the skies\nWe will sing old Dutch lullabies\nHow I long to sail back to my little Deitcher girl.\n\n\n <\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a> and Bennett Scott<\/a>,  to make it clear it is not the same as the song Down by the Old Zuyder Zee<\/a>  <\/em>(RN29879) collected by Roy Palmer from the singing of Frank Jones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
 As far as I know this song has not passed into the repertoire of traditional singers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A recording or download of this song can be purchased from Windyridge CDs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A 1907 recording:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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