Andrew Bardeen- Nelms (OK) pre 1889 Moores
[My date. From Ballads and Songs from the Southwest; Moores, 1964. Nelms of Norman Oklahoma, was born in Texas and came to Oklahoma April 22, 1989.
R. Matteson 2016]
Andrew Bardeen- Sung by R. L. Nelms of Norman, OK.
There were three brothers in old Scotland,
Three loving brothers were they,
They cast lots to see which one of the three
Should go sailing all o'er the salt sea
To maintain his two brothers and he.
It fell to the youngest, called Andrew Bardeen,
He being the youngest of the three,
That he should go sailing all o'er the salt sea
To maintain his two brothers and he.
They had not been sailing but weeks two or three,
Till a vessel they did espy;
A vessel was sailing far off and far on;
At length it came sailing close by.
"What vessel, what vessel?" cried Andrew Bardeen,
"What vessel and where are you bound?"
"We are the rich merchants from old Scotland,
And will you please let us pass by?"
"Oh no, oh no," cried Andrew Bardeen,
"Oh no, and that can never be;
But your ship and your cargo, I'll take away
And your merry crew drown in the sea."
Sad news, sad news went home to the king,
Sad news with a woeful sound,
That a rich merchant's vessel had been taken away
And all his merry crew drowned.
"Go build me a vessel," cried Captain Charles Stuart,
"Go build it strong and secure
That Andrew Bardeen can not take away,
MY life shall no longer endure."
They had not been sailing but weeks two or four,
Till a vessel they did espy;
A vessel was sailing far off and far on;
At length it came sailing close by.
"What.vessel, what vessel?" Cried Captain Charles Stuart;
"What vessel and where are you bound?"
"We are the robbers from old Scotland,
And will you please let us pass by?"
"Oh no, oh no," cried Captain Charles Stuart.
"Oh no, and that can never be;
But your ship and your cargo I'll take away
And your merry crew drown in the sea."
"Come on, come on," cried Andrew Bardeen.
"I value you not one pin;
For if you can show brass upon the outside,
Why we are good steel within."
All at once then the battle began,
And cannons loud did roar.
They had not been fighting an hour and a half,
Till Captain Charles Stuart gave o'er.
"Go home, go home," cried Andrew Bardeen,
"And tell King George for me
If he can reign king over all dry land,
I can reign king o'er the sea."