A Scotch Ditty- Nesbitt (NB) 1927 Barry B
[From British Ballads from Maine by Barry, Eckstorm and Smyth, 1929. Flanders, probably after this version, titled a 1941 version she and Olney collected of Katharine Jaffray, "A Scotch Ditty." Barry claims that Child's Scottish text, Katharine Jaffray I, (see below) is similar to this text.
2013, 2016]
B. "A Scotch Ditty"- Taken down from the recitation of Mr. J. P. A. Nesbitt of St. Stephen, New Brunswick, October, 1927. Barry B.
1. There was a lord, and a wealthy lord,
A lord of high renown.
He courted a North Country lass,
Until he had he won.
And when her parents came to know
Quite angry they grew;
It was their delight, both day and night,
To keep her from off his view.
2 She wrote her love a letter,
She wrote it with her own hand,
She told him she was to be wed
To a farmer's son.
The very first word that he did read,
He unto himself did say:
"I will deprive him of his bride
All on his wedding day."
3 He wrote his love a letter,
He wrote it sharp and keen,
He told her on her wedding day,
For to be dressed in green.
The suit of the same I will put on,
To your wedding I will prepare,
And I will take you from his side
In spite of all that is there."
4 He travelled east, he travelled west
All over the Highland land,
Until he got an army of men,
They were called the Highland clan.
A steed for them all he did-prepare,
And he dressed them all in green,
And now to the weddin' he is gone
As far as he can glen.
5 When he got to his true-love's house
He walked them all around,
They said; "Did you see that army of men
Come a-marchin' to the stound?"
He laughed at them, he scoffed at them,
And unto them did say:
"I suppose it was a fayry troops
Come marchin' 'long this way."
6 Now he says, "Come fill up your bumpers
With Merry port wine,
And drink a health all round,
Sayin', "Happy, happy is the man,
The man you call the groom,
But far more happy is the man
The man who shall enjoy the bride ;
If she loves me as I love thee,
I'll take her from his side."
7. Then up steps the groom's best man,
And an angry man was he,
If it was for fighting you came here,
I'm the man for thee."
"It wasn't for fighting I came here,
Good fellowship to show;
Give me one kiss for barb-ony[1] bride
And away from you I'll go."
8 He took her by the lily-white hand
And by her gauze-green sleeve,
He lead her out of the house
Without asking any leave
He placed her on beside him
With his merry men all dressed in green,
And as they rode to yon green grove,
She shone like any queen.
9 Come, all you North Country gentlemen,
Take warning now by me,
And don't be tricked as I have been,
All on my weddin' day;
Don't be tricked as I have been,
All on my weddin' day,
For instead of flesh I was catchin' fish
And I always had foul play.
1. From your bonny.
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['Lochinvar']-Child 221, Version I; Katharine Jaffray
Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 327, "from the recitation of Robert Sim, weaver, in Paisley, 16 July, 1825. It was a song of his father's, a great reciter of heroick ballads."
1 In Bordershellin there did dwell
A comely, handsome may,
And Lochinvar he courted her,
And stole her heart away.
2 She loved him but owre weel,
And his love drew away;
Another man then courted her,
And set the wedding-day,
3 They set the wedding-day so plain,
As plain as it might be;
She sent a letter to her former love,
The wedding to come see.
4 When Lochinvar the letter read,
He sent owre a' his land
For four and twenty beltit knichts,
To come at his command.
5 They all came to his hand, I say,
Upon that wedding-day;
He set them upon milk-white steeds,
And put them in array.
6 He set them in array, I say,
Most pleasant to be seen,
And he's awa to the wedding-house,
A single man his lane.
7 And when he was to the wedding-house come,
They wee all sitten down;
Baith gentlemen and knichts was there,
And lords of high renown.
8 They saluted him, baith auld and young,
Speired how he had spent the day,
And what young Lankashires was yon
They saw all in array.
9 But he answerd them richt scornfullie,
Upon their wedding-day;
He says, It's been some Fairy Court
Ye've seen all in array.
10 Then rose up the young bridegroom,
And an angry man was he:
'Lo, art thou come to fight, young man?
Indeed I'll fight wi thee.'
11 'O I am not come to fight,' he sayd,
'But good fellowship to hae,
And for to drink the wine sae red,
And then I'll go away.'
12 Then they filld him up a brimming glass,
And drank it between them twa:
'Now one word of your bonnie bride,
And then I'll go my wa.'
13 But some were friends, and some were faes,
Yet nane o them was free
To let the bride on her wedding-day
Gang out o their companie.
14 But he took her by the milk-white hand,
And by the grass-green sleeve,
And set her on a milk-white steed,
And at nane o them speerd he leave.
15 Then the blood ran down the Caylin bank,
And owre the Caylin brae;
The auld folks knew something o the sport,
Which gart them cry, Foul play!
16 Ye lusty lads of Limberdale,
Tho ye be English born,
Come nae mair to Scotland to court a maid,
For fear ye get the scorn.
17 For fear that ye do get the scorn
Upon your wedding-day;
Least ye catch frogs instead of fish,
And then ye'll ca't foul play.