Andrew Bardine- (ID) pre1952 Harrison
[From: Folk Songs from Oregon (w/music) by Russell M. Harrison; Western Folklore, Vol. 11, No. 3, Oregon Number (Jul., 1952), pp. 174-184. His notes follow.
The lack of scholarship is appalling here, not only does Harrison fail to produce the whole ballad--for reasons I could not fathom, but he gives no information about the source- no informant, location or date. It's possible it is the version referred to by Hubbard from Idaho but this is only speculation on my part.
R. Matteson 2013]
ANDY BARDINE (Child, 167) The text of this version is similar to variant A in British Ballads from Maine, by Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, page 249. The last verse of this version seems to have combined with "Captain Ward and the Rainbow" (Child, 287), found in Sargent and Kittredge, English and Scottish Popular Ballads, page 614.
Verse 10
Go tell the king of England
Go tell him this for me,
If he reign king of all the land
I will reign king at sea.
With that.........
For more complete references to this ballad, see British Ballads from Maine, by Barry Eckstorm, and Smyth, page 248. Also see Randolph's Ozark Folk songs, Volume I, page 177.
1. There were three bro--thers
In Bon---nie Soot-land.
Three lov--ing bro-thers were they.
And they all cast lots to see which of the three
should go rob--bing all 'round the salt sea.
And they all cast lots to see which of the three
should go rob--bing all 'round the salt sea.
2. It fell upon young Andy Bardine,
The youngest of the three,
That he the other two to maintain
Should go robbing all 'round the salt sea.
That he ... etc.
3. He had not sailed more days than three
When a vessel rich he spied.
Sailing afar and sailing afar
'Til at length it came sailing 'long side
Sailing afar... etc.
4. "Who's there? Who's there?" cried Andy Bardine.
"Who's there with sails so high?"
"We are a rich vessel from England with stores,
And I pray you, friend, let us pass by.
"We are a..." etc.
5. "Not so. Not so," cried Andy Bardine.
"Not so. Not so," cried he.
"Your vessel I'll take, your cargo and freight,
And your bodies sink in the salt sea.
"Your vessel .. ." etc.
In the next two verses a battle occurred. The news of this battle got back to the king of Scotland. He said bitterly that if they couldn't find Andy Bardine and stop this piracy on the high seas, his crown would be worthless. So Captain Charles Stewart said that he would take a vessel and try. That is the next verse.
8. "Give me a boat" cried Captain Charles Stewart,
"Give me a boat," cried he.
"And if I return not with Andy Bardine
My life will be worthless to me.
"And if I ..." etc.
9. He had not sailed more days than three
When a vessel black he spied.
Sailing afar and sailing afar
'Til at length it came sailing 'longside.
Sailing afar. . ." etc.
10. "Who's there? Who there?" cried Captain Charles Stewart,
"Who's there with sails so high?"
"Three jolly robbers from Scotland's shores
And I pray you, friend, let us pass by.
"Three jolly ..." etc.
11. "Not so. Not so," cried Captain Charles Stewart,
"Not so. Not so," cried he.
"Your vessel I'll take, your cargo and freight
And your bodies sink in the salt sea.
"Your vessel . . ." etc.
In verses 12 and 13 there ensues a battle much the same as in verses 6 and 7. Then Andy Bardine says:
14. "Go back. Go back," cries Andy Bardine,
"And tell your master for me,
That he may remain king on the dry land
And I'll remain king of the sea. "That he may..." etc.