Banks of Claudy

Claudy is in the north of Ireland, and this song takes place during a time when Britain and France battled for imperial domination outside of Europe, when a sailor might be away for many years with little chance of communicating with a lover back at home.
Banks of Claudy belongs to a group of songs known as “Broken Token Ballads.” Quite often the “token” has disappeared from the text, such as in this song, but it was usually a ring which was broken and each of the lovers kept half while the young man is off seeking his fortune. When the young man returns home, he does so in disguise and attempts to test his lover’s fidelity. Once he has done so and she proves faithful, he reveals himself.