The Seven Brothers- Mrs Guy R Hathaway, Mattawamkeag, Maine, September 8, 1928.
[From British Ballads from Maine, Barry Eckstrom and Smythe; 1929, version A, p. 35-37. Bronson No. 6.
R. Matteson 2014]
The Seven Brothers- Transmitted by Mrs. Guy R. Hathaway, Mattawamkeag, Maine, September 8, 1928; as remembered by her brother, Harold J. Shedd, of Mattawamkeag.
1 "Rise up, rise up, ye seven brothers all,
And put on your armor so gay,
And take the care of your elder sister,
For the younger I'll carry away.
2. "Rise up, rise up, ye seven sons all,
And put on your armor so fine,-
For it never shall be said such a saucy young lord
Ever weds a daughter of mine."
3. She amounted the milk white steed,
And he upon the grey,
With his broadsword hanging down by his side,
This young lord he went riding away.
4. As he looked over his left shoulder
To see what he could espy,
'Twas there he saw her seven brothers all
And her father a-drawing nigh.
5 "Alight, alight, Lady Margaret," he said,
"And hold my steed in your hand,
While I fight your seven brothers all,
And your father near at hand."
6. She stood and she held his steed in her hand,
And never shed a tear.
Until she saw her seven brothers fall,
And her father she loved more dear.
7. "O stay your hand, Lord William!" she cried,
"Your stripes are wonderous sore,
For sweethearts I can many a one have,
But a father f ne'er can have more."
8. "You can have your choice, Lady Margaret," he said,
"You can either go or abide."
"How can I stay, Lord William," she cried,
"When you've left me no friend nor a guide?"
9. She amounted the milk white steed,
And he upon the grey,
With his bugle horn hanging down by his side,
This young lord he went riding away.
10. He rode on and she rode on,
All by the light of the moon,
Until they came to the fair river side,
Where they both lighted down.
11. "What is the matter, Lord William?" she cried,
"Your blood flows down the mane!"
"'Tis nothing but the shadow of my scarlet robe
That shines in the watery stream."
12. He rode on and she rode on,
All by the light of the moon,
Until they came to his mother's gate,
Where they both lighted down.
13. "O! Mother dear, pray open your gate
For to admit your son,
For I have received my death wound,
And my truelove and I have come.
14. "O! Mother dear, pray make my bed,
Make it both wide and deep,
And lay Lady Margaret beside of me,
That the sounder I may sleep."
15. Lord William he died at midnight
Lady Margaret she lived till day.
May all true lovers joined in love,
Enjoy more comfort than they.
_______________________
Bronson No. 6 ABC format
T:Earl Brand 6 - The Seven Brothers
N:Barry, Eckstorm, and Smythe, 1929, pp 35-37. Transmitted by Mrs Guy R Hathaway, Mattawamkeag, Maine, September 8, 1928.
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:G
Bc |d2 Bc d2 g2 |d2 Bc d2 d2 |
w:Rise_ up, Rise_ up, ye seven broth-ers all, And
e2 ge d2 Bc |
w:put on your arm-our so
d6 d2 |
w:gay, And
e2 ge d2 G2 |d2 GG ED EF |
w:take the_ care of your eld-er sis-ter For the
G2 AB A E2 F |
w:young-er I'll car-ry a-
G6 z2 |]
w:way.
%End of file