Ballads and Sea Songs 1-21 Child Ballads
[These are the Child ballads. Raw text below, individual version attached to this page on the left hand column. Remember, the notes are by Kittredge, with Greenleaf occasionally contributing. There are two Child ballads (one secondary as an appendix to 43) in the the next batch (No. 22-49) of ballads.
Not proofed or edited yet- proceed at your own risk!! haha
R. Matteson 2014]
CONTENTS:
1. LADY ISABEL AND THE ELF KNIGHT (CHILD, No. 4) .
2. LORD ROBERT (CHILD, No. 7) .
3. THE TWA SISTERS (CHILD, No. 10)
4. THE BONNY BANKS O' THE VIRGIE, O (CHILD, No. 14)
s. THE BEGGAR MAN (CHILD, No. 17)
6. FAIR FLOWERS O' HELIO (CHILD, No. 20)
7. LORD ATEMAN (CHILD, No. 53)
8. LORD THOMAS (CHILD, No. 73)
9. LADY MARGARET (CHILD, No. 77) .
10. AN UNQUIET GRAVE (CHILD, No. 78)
11. GIL MORISSY (CHILD, No. 83) . .
12. BARBREE ELLEN (CHILD, No. 84) . .
13. YOUNG BARBOUR; OR, THE SEVEN SAILOR BOYS (CHILD, No. 100)
14. THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER OF ISLINGTON (CHILD, No. 105)
15. THE KNIGHT AND THE SHEPHERD'S DAUGHTER (CHILD, No. 110)
16. THE DARK-CLOTHED GYPSY (CHILD, No. 200) .
17. LOVELY GEORGIE (CHILD, No. 209)
18. JOAN AND JOHN BLOUNT (CHILD. No. 275).
19. THE GOLDEN VANITIE (CHILD, No. 286) .
20. THE LITTLE YORKSHIRE BOY (CHILD No. 283)
21. THE HIGHWAY ROBBER (CHILD No. 283)
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1. LADY ISABEL AND THE ELF KNIGHT
(CHILD, NO.4)
A. Sung by Mrs. Minnie Payne, Green Point, 1920. Recorded by E. B. G.
[music upcoming]
1 There was a youth, a well-beloved youth,
He was a squire's son,
He courted an innkeeper's daughter,
. . . . .
2 He courted her a long winter's night,
And many a long summer's day,
And all he courted his fair lady for
Was to take her sweet life away.
II Now get some of your father's gold, U said he,
H And some of your mother's fee,
And we will go to a far counteree,
And married we will be."
4 So she took some of her father's gold,
And some of her mother's fee,
And walked till she came to her father's stable door,
Where lay horses thirty and three.
5. She mounted on a lily-white steed,
And he on a silvery gray,
And she rode till they came to a clear riverside
Six hours before it was day.
6 "Now you pull off your clothes," he said,
"And prepare for your wat'ry tomb,
For nine king's daughters I have drownded here,
And the tenth one you shall be."
"Turn, 0 turn, you false-hearted youth,
Come tum your back unto me!
I don't think such a villain as you
A naked woman should see."
He turned himself quite round about;
In bitter grief she did weep,
And with all of the strength this fair lady had
She pushed him into the deep.
9 "O swim, 0 swim, you false-hearted youth!
I think you've got your doom;
For I don't think your clothes too costly
For to lie in a watery tomb."
10 She mounted on her lily-white steed,
And led his silvery gray,
And she got back to her father's stable door
Three hours before it was day.
11 Her father been so hazily awoke,
Which caused him to say,
"What makes you prattle, my pretty parrot dear,
So long before it is day?"
12 "There was two cats came at my cage-door,
They came for to carry me away,
And I called upon my young misteress
To drive those cats away."
13 "Hold your tongue, my pretty parrot dear,
Now hold your tongue," said she,
"Your cage shall be made of the yellow beaten gold,
And shall hang on a willow tree."
B.
Recited by Mrs. Susan Walters, Rocky Harbour, 1920.
1 There was an elf knight come from the north land,
And he came a-courting me;
He said he would take me unto the north land,
And there he would marry me.
2 "O, get me some of your father's gold,
And some of your mother's fee,
Two 01 the best nags out of the stable,
Where there stands thirty and three."
3 So I got some of my father's gold,
And some of my mother's fee,
Two of the best nags out of the stable,
Where there stands thirty and three.
4 He mounted on a milk-white steed,
And she on a dapple gray,
And they rode till they came to the salt-sea side
Two hours before it was day.
5 "Alight, alight, my pretty lady,
And deliver it all to me,
Alight, alight," said he,
For six pretty maidens I have drownded here,
And you the seventh shall be.
And the seventh you shall be.
6. "Pull off, pull off your silken hose,
And deliver it unto me,
. . . .
. . . .
7. The parrot was up in the window so high,
. . . .
"What ails you, what ails you, my pretty lady,
That you knock. so long before day?"
C.
Mrs. Robert N. Cleverdon recited this ballad to me in New York City in 1918, and it is the first ballad I ever recorded. Mrs. Cleverdon came from Halifax, and her Nova Scotian version was a very fine one. Unfortunately I have lost it, and remember only these stanzas:
1 "Take off, take of! your gay clothing,
And hang it on a tree,
For six king's daughters I've drownded here,
And you the seventh shall be."
2 "Then turn your head, you false-hearted villain,
Then turn your head from me,
For 'twould be a sin, such a false-hearted villain
A naked woman to see."
3 He turned his head all round about,
His eyes to the willow tree,
She cast her arms about his body
And threw him into the sea.
4 "Lie there, lie there, thou false-hearted villain,
Lie there instead of me;
Six king's daughters thou'st drowned here,
But the seventh hath drownded thee."
5 "Well done, well done, my pretty poll parrot!
Thou'st told no news of me,
And your cage shall be made of the fine beaten gold,
And locked with an ivory key."
This ballad is very widely known. See Cox, No. I j Mackenzic, No. t; Campbell and Sharp, No.2; Smith, No. Ij Davis, No.2; Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, pp. 14-34; Flanders and Brown, pp. 190--192; Hudson, No. Ij Henry, Journal, XI.ll, 254-256; Fauset, Folklore from Nova Scotia, p. 109; Sandburg, pp. 6o-61, Bulletin of the Folk-Song Society of the Northeast, No. I, pp. 3-4; Keith, No. II have not been able to find any tune similar to the one Mrs. Payne used. Mrs. Payne's first stanza is the first stanza of "The Bailiff's Daughter of Islington" (Child, No. 105).
2. LORD ROBERT
(EARL BRAND, CHILD, NO. 7)
Communicated by Mrs. Maude Roberts Simmonds, Glenburnie, Bonne Bay, 1930, from the singing of Mrs. Minnie Payne.
1. "Are you asleep or awake?" Lord Robert he cried,
"Or is you yet at home?
Arise and take care of your youngest brother,
For the oldest must come along with me."
2 "Arise and arise, you seven sons,
And buckle on your armour so bright,
For it never shall be said that a daughter of mine
Shall get married to lord, duke or a knight."
When she saw her seven brothers fall,
For none of them she never shed a tear,
But when she saw her old father fall,
It was her old father she loved so dear.
4 "Gerehan, O Gerehan [1], Lord Robert," she cried,
"Your blows they are wonderful sore.
For sweetheart I might have anyone,
A father I will never have no more."
"Are you going along with me?" Lord Robert he cried,
"Or will you tarry at home?"
"I will go along with you," Lady Margaret she cried,
"You have leaved me no other guide."
6 He mounted on his lily white steed,
And led the deeper gray,
He sounded up his bugle horn
And aloud he did play,
As he went bleeding along the highway.
He rode till he came to his mother's bower-gate,
He knocked and rang, sayin':
"Open the bower-gate, dear mother," he cried,
"For my dear lady I have win.
8 "Make my bed so soft and fine,
And stick it round with roses red.
Lay Lady Margaret down by my side,
And the sounder I will sleep."
9 Lady Margaret she died at eight o'clock,
Lord Robert he died before day;
I hope every loving couple ever meet together
Have more joy and comfort than they.
1. Hold yer han', hold yer han',
See Mackenzie, No.2 (with references); Campbell and Sharp, No. Jj Cox, TO. 2; Hudson, NO,'i Davis, NO.4; Henry, If,,.rnoJ. XUI, 256-257; Keith, NO·4.
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3. THE TWA SISTERS
(Child, No. 10)
Recited by Mrs. Walters, Senior, Rocky Harbour, 1920.
1 There was two sisters named Jane Mary Anne,
I was a gay and a gandy,
They both was loved by one young man,
Going down by the bonny boos [1] of London.
2 Her father give the oldest a gay gold ring,
And be loved the youngest twice as much.
Said the oldest to the youngest one day:
"We'll go and watch our father's ships sailing in."
3. The oldest put her foot upon the stone,
The youngest shoved her in all alone.
The miller come out with his fishing pan,
He brought this lady on dry land.
6 He did not know her beautiful face,
For it was covered all in lace.
He did not know her yellow hair,
For the lumps of gold was hanging there.
8 One day her true love was passing by,
And out from her a ghost did cry.
9 "Tell Sweet William, my own true love,
That here I'm drownded all alone."
1. bows
This is a tantalizing fragment of a very interesting ballad. 'The relationships are confused, and there is no U3ce of the dramatic wedding feast at which the lover plays on the harp be has made from the hair of the drowned maiden, which
speaks out and accuses the cruel sister. See Campbell and Sharp, NO. 4; Cox, . ·0. Jj Davis, .. ·0.5; Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, pp. 40-46; Hudson,. "0. J;
Richardson, p. 27. Cf. Archer Taylor, "The English, Scottish, and American Versions of The Twa Sisters,''' Journal. XLIl, 238-246; Barry, Bulk/in oj the
FoIk-Song Society of lite Northeast, NO.3, pp. 11-14; Journal of the Folk-Song Society, vm, 249 (tunes); Thomas, pp. 10'--13.
4. THE BONNY BANKS OF THE VIRGIE, O
(BABYLON; OR, THE BONNIE BANKS 0' FORDIE, CUlLD, No. 14)
Sung by May, Mildred, and Victoria White, Sandy Cove, 1929.
[Music upcoming]
1 Three young ladies went for a walk,
Too ra lee, and a lonely O,
And they met a robber on their way,
On the bonny, bonny banks of the Virgie, O.
2 He took the fust one by the band,
He whipped her sound till he made her stand.
He took the second one by the band:
"I'd rather die by my penknife."
4 He took the third one by the hand:
I'd rather my brothers 're here to-night."
"What is your brothers, I pray you tell? U
"For one is a robber like yoursel'."
6 "What did the other, I pray you tell?"
"The other is a minister, sir," said she.
7 "Lord have mercy for what I have done?
I have murdered my three sisters all but one! "
8 He took the penknife in his hand,
And 'twas there he took his own sweet life.
Here is the first record of Child. No. 14. on this side of the Atlantic. There is an ellipsis whereby the first twelve stanzas are condensed to four, but the complete slory is indicated. Two brothers are mentioned instead of one. It would be most interesting to compare the Scottish air with the one from Newfoundland. The girls, who were real English beauties, sang it in unison, keeping strict rhythm. We suspected that anyone of them was loo shy to sing it alone I Cf. Keith, No. 6.
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5. THE BEGGARMAN
(HIND HORN, CmLD, No. 17)
Sung by Daniel Endacott, Sally's Cove, 1921. Recorded by E. B. G.
AEOLIAN MODE [Music upcoming]
1 O, 'twas of a young couple they lived in this place,
They was courting by each other, you may plainly see,
Until strange news was come to him,
That he would sail in afar counteree.
2 When they was a-parting, she gived to him
A gay gold ring ...
"When you looks at the ring and it's bright and clear,
You know I am constant to my dear.
3. . . .
. . . .
"And when you looks at your ring and 'tis pale and wan,
You may know I'm engaged with some other young man."
4 Then he took a ship and away sailed he,
He sailed till he came to afar counteree;
He looked at his ring and 'twas bright and clear,
He knowed she was constant to her dear.
5 And then he took a ship and away sailed he,
Re sailed till he came to the Turkish shore;
He looked at his ring and 'twas pale and wan,
He knowed she was engaged with some other young man.
6 Then he took a ship and back sailed he,
He sailed till be came to his own counteree,
As he was riding along one day,
And who should he meet but an old beggarman?
7 "What news, beggarman, have you for me?"
"Bad news, bad news, I have for thee;
Bad news, bad news, I have (or thee,
For to-morrow is your true-love's wedding day."
8 "O, you'll give to me your bag and rig,
And I'll give to you my riding steed."
H My bag and rig is no good for thee,
Nor your riding steed is no good for me."
9 O let it be so, or let it be not,
The beggar's rig he then put on.
"Beggarman, beggarman, come tell me with speed,
What must I do with your bag and rig?"
10 "You'll walk as fast as is your will
Until you come to yonder hill,
And you'll walk as fast as is your rate,
And you'll lean on your staff in wayward state,"
11 "And you'll beg from Peter and you'll beg from Paul,
You'll beg from the highest to the lowest of them all,
And from none of them you'll receive nothing
Until you receives it from the bride's own hand."
12 He walked as fast as was his will
Until he came to yonder hill,
And he walked as fast as was his rate,
And he leaned on his staff in wayward state.
13 He begged from Peter and he begged from Paul,
He begged from the highest to the lowest of them all,
And from none of them he received nothing
Until he received it from the bride's own hand.
14 As she came trippling down the stairs
With rings on her fingers, gold bobs on her hairs,
And a glass of wine in her hand so small,
And she gave it to the old beggarman.
15 Then out of the glass he drinks the wine,
And into the glass he slipped a ring.
"Did you get it by sea, or yet by land,
Or did you get it from a drownded man's hand?"
16 "I neither got it by sea, nor yet by land,
or yet did I get it from a drowned man's hand;
But I got it in a courting way,
And I give it to my true-love on her wedding day."
17 The rings from her fingers they fell on the floor,
Gold bobs from her hair she throwed against the wall:
" I will go with you forevermore,
Supposing I beg my bread from door to door!"
18 Between the kitchen and the hall
The beggar's rig he then let fall;
For he shines the blackest among them all,
He's the richest man that's in the hall.
The Hind Hom story is an old favorite. The earliest text is a twelfth-century romance. For particulars, see the critical study by Walter R. Nelles in Journal, XXII, 4J fr. The ballad has been printed only once before from North America in two texts (one a fragment) from New Brunswick, by Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, pp. 13-80, d. pp. 471)-481 (with discussion of the air, p. xxv). These correspond very closely to the Newfoundland ballad, and it is a source of satisfaction to be able to compare the airs as well as the words. The two are undoubtedly related, as they are similar in mood, general rhythm, and certain intervals. Mr. Endacott said be had forgotten the beginning of the ballad. Cf. Keith, No. 10.
1 Var.: That he was sailing in a far counteree.
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6. FAIR FLOWERS OF HELlO
(THE CRUEL MOTHER, Child, No. 20)
A.
Sung by Agatha Walsh, Fleur de Lys, 1930.
1 There was a lady lived in New York,
Fair flowers of Helio,
She was courted of her father's clerk,
In the green hills of Helio.
2 She had two babes by this young man,
She prayed to God it would never be known.
She took a penknife long and sharp
And pierced it through their tender white hearts.
4 Those two babes will never be known;
And she buried them under a marble stone.
As she was walking along one day,
She saw two babes playing with a ball.
6 "O children dear, if you were mine,
I'd dress you up in silks so fine."
"O mother dear, when we were thine,
You wouldn't give us time to wear coarse or fine.
7 "Heaven is high and hell is low,
And when you die, it's to hell you'll go."
This is a widely diffused ballad, found in Nova Scotia (Mackenzie, NO.3) and in several of the United States. See Cox, No. Si Campbell and Sharp, No. 9; Davis, No. 9; Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, pp. 80-93; McGill, pp. 82-86; Fuson, pp. 59-60. Cf. Journal of the Folk-Song Society, VIII, 248 (tune); Keith, No. II. For a broadside text see Fawcett, Broadside Ballads (Osterley Park), pp. 150-53.
B.
GREENWOOD SIDING
Recited by Mrs. Susan Walters, Rocky Harbour, 1920.
1 There was a lady lived in York,
All along in a loney,
She fell in love with her father's clerk
Down by the greenwood siding.
2 She fell in love till it could be seen;
She fell in love till it could not be hid.
3 She leaned her back against the wall,
And there she had two babies horn.
4 She had nothing to clothe them in
But one old apron and that was thin.
5 She had a penknife long and sharp;
She pierced those tender babies' heart.
6 She went to the rivet to wash her knife;
She couldn't get the blood off to save her life.
She saw two babes playing with the ball.
8 "Babes, 0 babes, if you was mine,
I would dress you up in silk so fine."
9 "Mother, a mother, when we were thine,
You neither dressed us in coarse nor fine. "
10 "Babes, 0 babes, then can you tell
Where I must go to, heaven or hell?"
11 "Mother, O mother, we're sorry to tell
Your soul must be in depths of hell.
12 " There is a hell so large and deep,
The steps is there, just fitting your feet."
The Walterses thought this had been known in their family since 1820, and might have come to Newfoundland from Jersey.
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7. LORD ATEMAN
(YOUNG BEICHAN, Child, No. 53)
Recited by Henry Albert White, Sandy Cove, 1929.
1. "There's seven long years I will wait for you,
There's seven long years and eleven months three."
She took the keys of her father's prison,
Bound Lord Ateman she would go and see.
2 When she came to Lord Ateman's gate,
So boldly she knocked all at the gate,
"Who's there? Who's there?" cried the bold porter.
"Is this Lord Ateman, or is Lord Ateman within?"
"0 yes, 0 yes," cried the bold porter,
"For he's just now brought his new bride in."
3 "Fetch some of your bread, beer, and wine so strong,
And not forget this young lady,
That eased him out of his prison strong."
4 Lord Ateman flew all in a passion,
He kicked the table in splinters three,
Saying, "You've come here on your own speculation,
You may go home in your coaches, free."
Where there was bread, beer, and wine so strong,
And not forgetting this young lady,
Who eased him out of his prison strong.
This fragment is all that we heard of the fine old ballad in which the Turkish lady frees the English lord from prison, and after waiting for him to return, finally goes to his castle, just as his wedding with another (with coaches three) is taking place. To the glory and honor of men, Lord Aleman at once welcomes the Turkish lady and sends the other lady home. The ballad is widely distributed. Phillips Barry prints it from a Boston broadside of the early nineteenth century (Journal, XVIII. 209 n.). See Mackenzie. No. 51 Campbell and Sharp, No. 12; Journal of the Folk-Song Society. VII. SIS (tune); Keith, No. 22j Cox, No.8; Davis, No. 12; Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, pp. 106-122; Flanders and Brown, pp. 204-207; Smith, No. S; Hudson, No. 8; Parsons, Journal, XLI, 586-588; Henry, Journal, XLII, 261-262.
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8. LORD THOMAS
(LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ANNET, CHILD, No. 73)
Recited by Mrs. Susan Walters, Rocky Harbour, 1929.
1 Lord Thomas was a gay forester
And the lodge-keeper of the king's deer;
Fair Elender was as fair a woman,
Lord Thomas he loved her well.
2 "Come rail it over, dear mother," he said,
"Come rail it over again,
Whether I must marry fair Elender,
Or bring the brown girl home."
3 "The brown girl she got houses and land,
Fair Elender she got none,
And therefore I charge you with my blessing
Go bring the brown girl home."
4 He went till he came to fair Elender's court,
So loudly knocked at the ring.
There was none so ready as fair Elender herself
To let Lord Thomas in.
"What news, what news, Lord Thomas?" she said,
"What news brings you to-day?"
"Bad news brings I, fair Elender," he says,
"Bad news I bring to thee.
I come to ask you to my wedding,
And I think that is bad news for thee."
6 "Come rail it over, dear mother," she says,
"Come rail it over again,
If I must go to Lord Thomas' wedding,
Or if I must stay at home."
7 "Many may be your friends, my daughter,
But thousands are your foe,
And therefore I charge you with my blessing
To Lord Thomas' wedding don't go."
8. "Yes, many may be my friends, mother,
And thousands are my foes;
But betide to my life, betide to my death,
To Lord Thomas' wedding I'll go."
9 She dressed herself in rich array,
Her merry men all in green,
And every town that they went through,
They took her to be some queen.
10. When she came to Lord Thomas' court,
So loudly she knocked at the ring;
There was none so ready as Lord Thomas himself
To let the fair Elender in.
11 He took her by the lily-white hand
And led her through the hall;
He placed her in the noblest chair
Among the ladies all.
12 "Is this your bride, Lord Thomas?" she said,
"She looks most wonderful brown.
You might have had as fair a woman
As ever trod England's ground."
13 "Despise her not, fair Elender," he said,
II Despise her not to me;
Much better do I like your little finger
Than I do her whole body."
14 The brown girl had a little penknife,
It was both long and sharp,
Betwixt the long ribs and the short,
She pierced fair Elender's heart.
15 "O, what's the matter?" Lord Thomas said,
"You look so pale and wan?
You used to have so fair a color
As ever the sun shone on."
16 "Are you blind, Lord Thomas?" she said,
"Or can't you very well see?
And can't you see my own heart's blood
As it trinkles down to my knee? "
17 Lord Thomas he has a sword by his side,
It was both long and small,
He cut the brown girl's head from her shoulders
And threw it against the wall.
18 He put his broadsword ...
19 "Now dig me a grave," Lord Thomas he said,
" And dig it both wide and deep,
And lay fair Elender by my side
And the brown girl at my feet."
This venerable song is not regarded by the young Newfoundlanders with the respect due its long life and honorable history. "It's a great song for laughing," said young Thomas Endacott, aged twenty. "Just imagine, when they were all
lying in one grave. and the trump sounded for the Judgment Day, and they was all scrabbling for their bones, if Lord Thomas should get one of the brown girl, legs!" See Mackenzie, So. 6; Campbell and Sharp, No. 16; Cox, No. 10; Davis,
No. t8; Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, pp. 128-139; Flanders and Brown, pp.
209- 213; McGill, pp. 26-33; Shoemaker, pp. 160-161j Smith, No. s; Hudson,
No. 10j Henry, Journal, XIII. 262-265; Keith. No. 28; Thomas, pp. Fuson, pp. 49-51. For a broadside text see Fawcett, B,OiJdsuu Ballads (Osluley Park), pp. 172-17-4.
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9. LADY MARGARET
(SWEET WILLIAM'S GHOST, CHILD, No. 77)
Communicated by Mrs. Maude Roberts Simmonds, Glenburnie, Bonne Bay, 1930.
1 Lady Margaret was sitting in her low bower chamber
When she heard a dismal sound,
"Is it the voice of my father Thomas?" she cried,
"Or is it my brother John?
Or is it my true love Sweet William
From Scotland home he has come? "
2 "It is not your father Thomas," he cried,
"And it is not your brother John,
But it is your true love Sweet William
From Scotland he has come,"
"Have you brought to me any jewelry, my love?
Have you brought to me any ring?
Have you brought to me any token at all
That a true love ought to bring?"
4 "I have brought to you no jewelry, my love;
I have brought to you no ring;
I have brought to you my white winding sheet
What my fair body do lie in."
5 He took her by the apron string,
Saying, "Follow, follow me."
And it's over the hills in a fine summer's night
In a dead man's company.
6 He walked till he came to the low churchyard,
Where the grass grow tall and green.
"Lady Margaret," he says," this is the place
Where my fair body do dwell in."
7 "Have you any room at your bed head?" she cried,
"Have you any room at your feet?
Have you any room at your right side
That I may lie down and sleep?"
8 "My father is at my bed head," he said,
"My mother is at my feet;
There is three hell-hounds around my right side,
Watching my poor soul to keep.
9 "One is for my drunk'ness," he said,
"The other is for my pride,
The other is for deluding of a fair pretty maid,
Tot making her for my bride."
10 He took her by the lily-white hand
And he pressed her to his breast,
"Good night, good night, Lady Margaret," he said,
"And the great God grant you rest."
We also heard a few fragments which might be part of this ballad (see p. 76, below):
"This very night I will lie with you
Although you're so many miles away."
"I'm come from my watery grave."
"Is there any room at your feet for me?"
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10. THE UNQUIET GRAVE
(Child, No. 78)
Sung by Mrs. Rosie White, Sandy Cove, 1929.
[music]
1 There been falling drops of dew, sweetheart,
And heavy falls of rain;
I've only had but one sweetheart,
On the green fields he was slain.
2 I would do so much for my sweetheart
As any young maid may;
I'll sit and mourn upon his grave
For a twelvemonth and a day.
3 When the twelvemonth and a day been up
This young man rose and spoke;
"What keeps you mourning upon my grave?
You will not let me sleep.
4 "Why do you weep, why do you mourn?
What do you want of me?"
"One kiss, one kiss from your lily-white lips
That's all I want of thee."
5 "My lily-white lips are cold as clay,
And my breath smells vile and strong;
If you takes one kiss from my lily-white lips,
Your time it won't be long."
6. "Down yonder meadow where the grass grows green,
Where you and I used to walk,
The prettiest Bowers that ever we had seen
It is withered unto the stalk.
7. "It is withered unto the stalk, sweetheart,
And the leaves will never return;
But since I have lost my own sweetheart
What shall I do but mourn?"
8 "Mourn not for me, my own true love,
Mourn not for me, I pray,
So I must leave you and all the whole world,
And go into my grave."
B.
THE AULD SONG FROM COW HEAD
Sung by the Rev. Gibbs Bull, Exploits, 1929.
[music]
How cauld those winds do blow, dear Laird,
What heavy drops of rain;
I never had but one true love,
And she from me was slain.
This is the first record of this moving ballad in North America. Mrs. Rosie White's air is similar in its first phrase to the air for "The Two Brothers" (Child, no. 49), as printed in British Ballads from Maine, p. 99. Campbell and Sharp print three verses of "The Two Brothers" (No. 11, B, C, and D; Child, No. 49) which are like verses of "The Unquiet Grave." The two ballads are evidently allied. and it is interesting to see that the connection is retained in the music as well as in the words. For "The Unquiet Grave" in England see Merrick, Folk-Songs from Sussex (Book V of Sharp's Folk-Songs of England), pp. 16-21; Sharp and Marson, Folk Songs from Sommerset, I, 14-15; Sharp, One Hundred English Folk-Songs, 10. 24 (with notes. pp. vii-viii); Sharp, England Folk Songs, p. 18-19 (and references, p. xii); A. Williams. Folk-Songs of the Upper Thames. p. 16; Leather, The Folk·Lore of Herefordshire, pp. 202-203; Journal of the Folk-Song Society, VIII, 26-27 (tune only).
-----------
11. GIL MORISSY
(CHILD MAURICE, Child, No. 83)
Recited by Mrs. S. Walters, Rocky Harbour, 1920.
1 "Here's a letter come from Giles Morissy,
Sent carefully here by me,
Here's a letter come from Giles Morissy,
For to let no one see."
2 "If it's a letter from Gil Morissy
It's welcome unto me."
The lady's hushand overheard these words and was jealous of Gil Morissy, so he went out and
3 He saw a youth on a milk-white steed,
Comhing out his yellow hair.
He challenged him to fight and killed him. The lady went out and made this lament over his grave, for he was her son,
"I nursed you up in the good greenwoods,
Beneath all grief and shame,
"I've sat down by your cradle
And rocked you fast asleep,
And now I do sit by your grave,
And bitter tears do weep."
The husband replied:
6 "If I'd known Gil Morissy been your son,
He'd never been slain by me."
Cf. Journal of the Folk-Song Society, II, 110-111; Keith, No 31.
-----------------
12. BARBREE ELLEN
(BONNY BARBARA ALLAN, Child, No. 84)
Communicated by Mrs. Maude Roberts Simmonds, Glenburnie, Bonne Bay, 1930.
1 So early, early, all in the spring,
When the little birds were singing,
A young man on his deathbed lay,
In love with Barbree Ellen.[1]
2 " Come bridle me a milk-white colt,
Come saddle me a pony;
That I may ride to his bedside
And see if he is dying."
3 So quickly she put on her clothes,
So slowly she rode to him.
As she rode up to his bedside,
She says, "Young man, you're dying."
4 "O dying, dear? Don't you say so,
For one kiss from you will cure me."
"One kiss from me you never shall get,
If your poor heart is breaking.
5 "Can you remember last Saturday night
You were in some alehouse drinking?
You drank an health to all fair girls
And slighted Barbree Ellen."
6 "If you go up to my bedside,
There you'll find my gold bowl standing;
There is my gold bowl, it's filled with tears
I shed for Barbree Ellen.
7 "So you go up to my bedside,
There you'll find my gold watch hanging;
There is my gold watch and my gold chain,
So wear it, Barbree Ellen."
8 As she was walking the garden green,
She heard the hell a-tolling;
The more they tolled they seemed to say,
"Hard-hearted Barbree Ellen."
9 As she was going along the street,
She saw the corpse a-coming;
"0 lay him down, 0 lay him down,
That I may gaze upon him."
10 The more she gazed, the more she laughed,
Till she oould not gaze for laughing,
And all her friends cries out, "For shame!
Hard-hearted Barbree Ellen."
11 "Come mother dear, make up my bed,
And make it soft and narrow;
My love has died for me to-day,
I will die for him to-morrow!'
12 They both were buried all in one grave,
And that was her desire,
And over him the red rose tree,
And over her the briar.
13 They growed together in a true-lovers' knot,
The red rose and the briar;
They growed together as true loves do,
The red rose and the briar.
1 The last line of each slanz.a "doubles" (i. e" is repeated).
See, for texts and references, Mackenzie, NO.9; Campbell and Sharp, No. 21; Cox, No. 84; McGill, pp. 39-44; Smith, No.8; Davis, No. 24; Shoemaker, pp. 127-130; Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, pp. 195-200, 305; Hudson, No. 18; Henry, Journal, XXXIX, 211-:212; XLD, 268-272; Millican, Journal, XllI, 303-305; F. W. Allsopp, Polklore of Rotlumtic Arkansas,n, 212-213; Fauset, Folklore from Nova Scolia, pp. 113-115; Sandburg, pp. 57-58; Keith, No. 32; Ord, pp. 476-417; Thomas, pp. 94-95; Fuson, pp. 47-48.
-----------------
13. YOUNG BARBOUR
OR, THE SEVEN SAILOR BOYS
(WILLIE 0' WINSBURY, Child, No. 100)
A. YOUNG BARBOUR
Sung by Maude Roberts, Sally's Cove, 1920.
[music]
I 'Twas of a lady in the west counteree,
She was clothed ail in green,
As she looked out from her father's castle wall
And she saw a ship sailing in.
(Refrain: repeat the last line.)
2 "O daughter, 0 daughter," her father did say,
"What makes you look so pale and wan?
You must have some sort of sickness," he said,
"Or be in love with some young man."
3 "O father, 0 father," the daughter did say,
"'Tis no wonder for me to look so pale and wan,
For what do grieve my poor heart," she said,
"My true love is so long at sea/'
4 "O, is he a lord, or is he a duke,
Or a man of high degree?
Or is he one of my seven sea boys
That ploughs the raging sea?"
5 "He is no lord, nor he is DO duke,
Nor a man of high degree,
But he is one of your seven sea boys
That ploughs the raging sea."
6 "O daughter, 0 daughter," her father did say,
"Is that the truth you are telling me?
For to-morrow morning at eight o'clock
It is hanging he will be."
7 "O father, a father," the daughter did say,
"Is this the truth you are telling to me?
For if you do hang mine own true love,
You will get no good of me."
8 He called down his seven sea boys,
By one, by two, by three.
Young Barbour he always used to be the fust,
But the last came down was he.
9 Young Barbour he came a-trembling down,
He was clothed all in silk,
With his cherry cheeks like the roses red,
And his skin so white as milk.
10 "0 daughter, 0 daughter," the father did say,
I"Tis no wonder for you to look pale and wan;
For if I was a woman instead of a man,
I would die for the love of him."
11 "Will you wed my daughter?" the father did say,
"Will you take her by the hand?
And will you come down and dine with me
And be heir to all my land?"
12 "Yes, I will marry your daughter," he said,
"I will take her by the hand,
I will come down and dine with you," he said,
"And a fig for all your land!
13 "If you can give hel a guinea a day,
I can give her thirty and three,
Although they calls me the Young Barbour,
That ploughs the raging sea."
This charming ballad is one of the most popular songs in Newfoundland. It is known and sung by the young people in all parts of the island. The English ballad is evidently the source, as the lover's name is invariably "Barbour" in Newfoundland, and not "Willie," as in most of the Scottish versions (eL Keith, No. 37, "Thomas"). It seems strange that a ballad so popular in Newfoundland should not be sung extensively in North America, but other collectors have not recorded it except for an imperfect text in Combs) pp. 140-141 (West Virginia); d. Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, pp. 224-225.
B. Sung by Dennis Walsh, Fleur de Lys, 1929.
[music
1 There was a lady living in the east,
And she was clothed in green,
And she was sitting on her father's castle wall
When she saw a ship sailing in.
(Refrain: repeat the last line of each stanza)
2 "O daughter, O daughter," the father did say.
"What makes you look so pale?
And what is the trouble on your poor heart's mind?
Have your true love been long at sea?"
3 "O father, 0 father/' the daughter did say,
"It's true what you 're telling me,
And that's the trouble on my poor heart's mind
That my true love been long at sea."
4 "O, is he any lords or dukes or squires,
Or a man of high degree,
Or is be one of my seven sailor boys
That ploughs on the raging sea? "
5 "O, he's no lord nor duke nor squire,
Nor a man of high degree,
But he is one of the seven sailor boys
That ploughs on the raging sea."
6. "O daughter, 0 daughter," the father did say,
"Is it true what you 're telling me?
To-morrow moming at seven o'clock.
He'll be shot from the bands of me."
7 O, the king called down his seven sailor boys,
By one, by two, by three;
Young Barbour always used to be the first,
But the last came down was he.
8 O, downstairs, downstairs tumbled Young Barbour,
And he was clothed in silk,
With his dark-brown eyes and his coal-black hair,
And his skin faded white as mille
9 "O, will you marry my daughter?" he said,
"And take her by the hand;
And I will will you over all my gold,
And go king over all my land."
10 "O, I will marry your daughter," he said,
I will take her by the hand;
But I don't want none of your gold,
Nor go king over all your land.
11 "Where you can give her one guinea/' he said,
"I can give her thirty and three,
Although you calls me the young ploughboy
That ploughs the raging sea."
12 "O daughter, 0 daughter," the father said,
"So it's true what you're telling me.
" I was a woman instead of a man,
I would die lor the love of he."
C.
JOHN BARBOUR
Sung by Peter Abbott, Twillingate, 1929.
[music]
1 "What's the matter with my daughter?" the old man said,
"For she seems so sick and wan.
She must have some kind of a fever," he said,
Or in love with some young man."
(Refrain: repeat the last line.)
2 "I have no kind of a fever," she said,
"Nor in love with no young man,
But I'm thinking of my own true love,
For he is now sailing. "
3 " Is he a king or is he a lord,
Or is he a man of fame,
Or is he one of my sailor hoys?
I pray you tell me his name."
4 "He's not a king, nor he's not a lord,
Nor he's not a man of fame,
But he is one of your sailor boys,
John Barbour is his name.""
5 "Go bring John Barbour unto me," he said,
"Go bring him unto me,
And to-morrow morning at eight o'clock
We'll hang him to a tree."
6 "If you hang John Barbour to a tree," she said,
"If you hang him to a tree,
If you hang John Barbour to a tree," she said,
"You'll get no good of me."
7 So early next morning John Barbour arrived,
And his suit were all in green,
His teeth were of the ivory white,
He was fair as any king.
8 "I will make no wonder," the old man said,
"That my daughter is in love with you,
For if I were a maid instead of a man,
I would die for the love of you."
9 "Will you wed my daughter?" the old man said,
"Will you wed her by the hand?
Will you come and dine at my table
Coming in for all of my land,"
10 "I'll wed your daughter," John Barbour said,
"I'll wed her by the hand;
I'll come and dine at your table,
But a flux with you and your land."
----------------
14. THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER OF ISLINGTON
(Child, No. 105)
Sung by Mrs. Minnie Payne, Green Point, 1920.
1 There was a youth, a well-beloved youth,
He was a squire's son,
He courted an inn-keeper's daughter,
. . . .
For texts and references see Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, pp. 225-227 (from New Brunswick); Hudson, No. 16 (Mississippi); also in Jtmrnal, XXXIX, 100-107; Davis, No. 28; Sharp MS. (Appalachian), Harvard College Library, pp.
645-647; Brady MS., Harvard College Library, pp. 66-68; Journal of the Folk-Song Society, vu, 34-35; Keith, No. 41.
15. THE KNIGHT AND THE SHEPHERD'S DAUGHTER
(CHILD, No. 110)
Communicated by Mrs. Maude Roberts Simmonds, Glenburnie, Bonne Bay, I930.
1 'Twas of a knight was riding by,
And he got drunk with wine,
. . .
. . .
2 As he was riding along,
A maid he chanced to spy;
He elapsed his arm around her waist
And threw her on the ground.
Fall the diddle, all the doll, a-dee.
3 "Since you bad the will of me,
Pray tell unto me your name,
For when my little baby is born
I may call it the same."
4 "Some do call me Jack,
And some do call me John,
But when I comes to the king's fair court,
They call me Sweet William."
5 He put his foot all in the stirrup
And away he began to ride;
She tied her handkerchief around her middle,
And ran by the horse's side.
6 She run till she came to the broad riverside,
She lay on her belly and swum,
She swum till she came to the other side,
She took to her heels and run.
7 She ran till she came to the king's fair court,
So loudly she did ring;
There was none so ready as the king himself
To let this fair one in.
8 "What do you want, fair maid?" he said,
"What do you want?" said he.
"There is one man all in your town
This day have a-robbed me."
9 "What have he robbed you of, fair maid?
Any of your gold or any of your store?"
. . .
. . .
10 "He have not robbed me of my gold,
or any of my store;
He've robbed me of my maidenhead,
And that is the worst of all."
11 "O, if he is a married man,
'Tis hanged he will be;
And if he is a single man,
His fair body I will give unto thee."
12 "What would you know him by, fair maid?
What would you know him by?"
"I would know him by his down galles look
And the rolling of his eye."
13 The king called up his merry men
By one, by two, by three;
Young William was always the first,
But the last of all came he.
14 "0, cursed was the day
That I got drunk on wine,
To think any farmer's daughter be
A true love of mine."
15 "A farmer's daughter although I am,
You might have leaved me alone.
If you make me a lady over one thousand
I will make you a lord over ten."
16 'Twas early the next morning
To the church they did go,
Where she proved to he a duke's daughter
And he a blacksmith's SOD.
Fall the diddle, all the doll, a-dee.
See Barry, Journal, XXII, 377-378, with tune (Massachusetts, from a Scotch laborer in Ireland). For English versions see Sharp and Manon, Folk Songs from Somtrsd, No. 28, D, 2-3; Sharp, One Hundrtd English Folksongs, No. 3 (and Notes, p. xviii); Sharp, English Folk Songs, J, 6-7. No. 3; Kidson, Traditional Tunes, pp. 2I; Journal of the Folksong Society, III, 222-223, 280--281; V,
86--90; A. Williams, FolkSongs of the Upper Thames, pp. 102-103; H. Pentin, Preceedings of the Dorset Naturalist Society and Antiquarian Field Club, xxVII, 32-33; The Vocal Magazine, 1781, Song 1081, pp. 297-298; Keith, No. 43.
-----------------
16. THE DARK-CLOTHED GYPSY
(THE GYPSY LADDIE, Child, No. 200)
Sung by Victoria White, Sandy Cove, 1929.
-music]
I There's three young gypsies all in a row;
They sang so sweet, so very, very sweet,
They sang so sweet, so very, very sweet,
It would charm the heart of a lady fair.
2 "Are you going to forsake your houses and land,
Are you going to forsake your children, too?
Are you going to forsake your own true wedded Jove
And follow the dark-clothed gypsy, O?"
3 "Yes, I'm going to forsake my houses and land;
Yes, I'm going to forsake my children, too;
I'm going to forsake my own wedded love
And follow the dark-c1othed gypsy, 0."
4 "Last night you lay on a warm feather bed
With the sheets all white as snow,
And to-night you may lie on the damp, cold ground,
In the arms of a dark-clothed gypsy, 0."
THE GYPSIES
Recited by Henry Albert White, Sandy Cove, 1929.
1 He rided over high, high hills
Until he came up with his lady, O.
"Will you come back, my fair pretty maid?
Will you come back, my honey, O? "
"I rather have a kiss from those gypsies' rosy lips,
Than I would all your houses and money, 0."
2 "Will you forsake your houses and land,
Your husband and your baby, too?
Will you forsake your lord's broad sword
And follow three gypsy laddies, O?"
3 "I will forsake my houses and land,
My husband and my baby, too;
1 will forsake my lord's broad sword
And follow three gypsy laddies, O."
4 "Last night 1 lied on a fine feather bed,
With my husband and my baby, O,
But to-night 1 must lie on the cold barn floor,
In the arms of a gypsy laddy O."
For American references see Campbell and Sharp, No. 27; Cox, No. 21; Davis, No. 37; Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, pp. 26g-277i Hudson, No. 18; Sandburg, p. 311. Victoria White's tune is entirely different from that published by Campbell and Sharp, but will be found very sweet and haunting. Cf. Keith, No. 60.
--------------------
17. LOVELY GEORGIE
(GEORDIE. Child, No. 209)
Communicated by Mrs. Maude Robert Simmonds, Glenburnie, Bonne Bay, 1930.
1 As I roved out one May morning
One May morning so early,
And who should I spy but a comely maid,
A-pleading the life of Georgie?
2 "What have puir Georgie done, fair maid?
Have be killed or murdered anybody?"
"He have stolen three of the king's fair deer
And sold them in Virginie."
3 She rode till she came to the king's fair court
And people she saw many,
But among them all spied her own true love
That grieved her more than any.
4 King looked over his left shoulder
And words then he said many;
He says, "Fair maid, you have come too late,
Your Georgie is condemned already."
5 King looked over his right shoulder
And words then he said many;
He says, "Fair maid, you have come too late,
Your Georgie is condemned already."
6 "My Georgie shall be hung with golden chains,
Such chains there are not many,
With gold all laid to cover him in,
Saying, 'There lies the body of Georgie.'
"If I had my Georgie on yonder hill,
It's kisses he'd get many;
With sword and pistol by my side,
I would fight for the life of Georgie."
For the relation of this song to the eigbteenth-century broadside of "George of Oxford" (Child, IV, 141; Ebsworth, Roxburghe Ballads, Vll, 70) see Belden, Journal, xx, 319. For references see Cox, No. 23. Add Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, p. 475; Shoemaker, pp. ]62-163; Ord, pp. 456-457; Keith, No. 62.
-----------
18. JOAN AND JOHN BLOUNT
(GET UP AND BAR THE DOOR, Child. No. 275)
Sung by Mrs. Annie Walters, Rocky Harbour, 1929.
1 There was an old couple lived under an hill,
Joan and John Blount they were called, 0;
They brewed great ale all for to sell,
They brewed it wonderlul well, O.
2 John Blount and his wife drank some 01 his ale,
Till they could drink no more, 0;
They both went to bed with a drop in their bead,
And lorgot to bar their door, O.
3 A bargain, a bargain this old couple made,
A bargain firm and sure, 0,
The very first one that should speak the first word
Should go down to bar the door, O.
4 Along came travellers, travellers three,
Travelling in the night, 0;
No house nor shelter could they find,
No tire nor candle-light, O.
5 And straight to John Blount's bouse they went,
And boldly opened the door, 0;
But not one word did the old couple say,
For lear one should bar the door, O.
6 They ale of his victuals, they drank of his drink,
Till they could drink no more, 0;
But not one word did the old couple say,
For fear one should bar the door, O.
7 Then straight upstairs those travellers went,
And look the old woman out of her bed,
And kissed her on the floor, 0;
But not one word did the old couple say,
For fear one should bar the door, O.
8 "You've eat of my victuals, you drank. of my drink.,
You've kissed my wife on the floor, 0-"
"John Blount," she said, "you've spoke the first word!
Go down and bar the door, O.
9 "If you don't like what they did unto me,
They kissed me on the floor, 0,
Take this to be as a warning, see,
Every night you bar your door, 0."
The coastal steamer had been sighted afar. the dory had been prepared to any me out to board her, and I was nearly ready to say good-bye to my dear friends in Rocky Harbour and write folk songs to my collecting in Newfoundland. when
Mn. IValton ..... inspired to sing this old and sprightly ballAd, .. that I might
fill my note-book to the very last page. Would that I bad made the effort to
write down her sprightly tune as well!
The present version corresponds to Child's B, C (the latter from Johnson, TM Scols Musical Museum, • •0.365. with tune). Cox,. '0. I8S. belongs to the same group. The variants in Davis, Xo. 4-t (without tune), Combs, pp. 147-148 C. without tune), and Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, PP.318-321 (with tune), correspond to Child's A. See also Dm:idsOtt's U"i!'trsaJ Afdodisl, I, 275 (with
tune); Christie, TrodilioMl B..1JJ4d AiTs, n, 26:-263; Keith, Xo. 92. For the tale
see (besides the references in Child) Swynnerton, lnduJls Nithls' Enkrl4inmmJ,
pp. 14-15; H. Parker, Vi/lagt Folk·Tales of Ceylon, No. 87, U, 60--63; Basset,
Conks PO/llllaiTU Bubius, No. 50, p. 104; Cunoy, LillbaJuTe OTak de la Pic4Tdit.,
pp. 167-171; R. Kohler, Kkittne Sdrriflat, n, 5;6-578; Rtmtanisck PorstAunttfl, X\'l, J4Ct-J4I.
19. THE GOLDEN VANlTIE
(CHILD, No. 286)
FRAGMENTS
A. Recited by Will Barrett.
My father had a ship in the north counteree,
She sails by the name of the Golden Vanitie,
I'm afraid she will be taken by some pirate ship at sea
As she sails along the Lowlands low,
As she sails along the lonesome sea.
B. Sung by Mrs. Herbert Young, Twillingate, 1929.
The boy bent his breast and round swam he,
He swam till he reached the larboard side,
With an auger in his hand he bored it through her twice
While some were playing cards and more were playing dice.
And I'll sink her in the Lowland sea, the Lowlands,
I'll sink. her in the Lowlands low.
And he let the water in and put out all her lights,
As she sailed along the Lowlands, the Lowlands,
As she sailed along the Lowlands low.
We were not fortunate enough to hear the whole of this song, though it is surely known and sung in Newfoundland. For texts and references see Cox, No. 32; Campbell and Sharp, No. 35 (tunes dissimilar)j Davis, No. 47; Shoemaker, pp.
132-133, 299-300; McGill, pp. 96-I02j Flanders and Brown, pp. 230-231;
Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, pp. 33lT347; Hudson, No. 22; Keith, No. 101.
Colcord, Roll and Go, p. 78, has a tune like the Newfoundland tune.
20. THE LITTLE YORKSHIRE BOY
(TID: YORKSHIRE BITE)
Sung by Daniel Endacott, Sally's Cove, 1929-
Recorded by E. 8. G.
[Music]
I There was an old farmer in Yorkshire did dwell,
And a pretty little Yorkshire boy he had for his man,
A pretty little Yorkshire boy he had for his man,
And for to do his business, his name it was John.
Refrain: Timmy right, fol de dol de dol de, right fol de dee.
2 0, the farmer he called down to his man John
And unto him his man John he came,
Saying, "Take this cow to the fair to-day,
She 's in proper good order and her I can spare."
0, the boy took the cow and away rode he,
The boy took the cow and away rode he,
He hadn't been long gone till he met two men,
When he sold them the cow for six pound ten.
4 0, the butcher be took the boy in for a drink,
0, the butcher he paid down the boy his jink,
And turning to the landlord, thus he did say,
"What shall I do with the money, I pray?"
IfI will sew it in the linings of my coat then,II says he,
"For I'm afraid on the highway it's robbed I might be."
Says the man to himself while drinking up his wine,
Says he to himself, "That money is mine."
6 0, the boy took his money and away rode he,
The highwayman followed after him also.
"You're well overtaken, young man/' says he.
"How many miles further?" the robber did reply.
7 "0, four miles further," the boy did reply.
"Then jump on my horseback, and jump up behind,
So the boy jumped the horseback and away rode they.
8 0, they rode till they came to some dark lane;
Says the robber unto Jack, "I must tell you plain,
Deliver up your money without any strife,
Or instantly I will end your life."
9 0, the boy thought it was no time to dispute,
From the linings of his coat all the money he pulled out,
From the linings of his coat all the money he pulled out
And among the long grass he scattered it about.
10 O, the robber he unlighted for to gather in his money,
But little did he think it was to his loss,
While gathering in the money in his purse,
The boy jumped a-horseback and rode away with his horse.
11 "O," says the boy to the farmer, ell must tell you plain,
It's robbed I was by a highwayman,
And while he was gathering his money in his purse,
For to make you amends I brought home his horse."
12 O, the farmer he laughed whilst his two sides he hold:
"That's for a boy you was very bold,
And as for that villain you served him right,
And your name shall shine truly through Yorkshire bright."
13 In the pocket of the saddle was there to be found
The gold and the silver of five thousand pound.
Says the farmer to the boy, "I must tell you clear
Three parts of the money you shall have for your share.
14 "I will give you my youngest daughter to be your sweet wife,
Take her and live happy all the days of your life;
And my youngest daughter to be your sweet wile,
Take her and live happy all the days of your life."
Timmy right, fol de dol de dol de, right fol de dee.
Tbis song is olten called "The Yorkshire Bite" and is a parallel to "The Crafty Farmer" (Child, No. 283; Cox, No. 31). Barry (Journal, xxm, 451-452) gives a version from Boston containing the concluding lines, which have become
changed in the Newfoundland text:
"And as for the villain, you 'ye served him just right,
To think you put upon him a Yorkshire bite."
Another variant, called "The New Hampshire Bite," is found in Bany, Eckstorm, and Smyth, pp. 406-413. The air has the same two-four rhythm, and similar big intervals, though it is not identical with the Tewfoundland air. See also Flanders and Brown, pp. 234-:235; Combs, pp. 14C}-IS2; Sandburg, pp. 118-119; R. V. Williams, Folk-Songs from the Eastern Cou1lliu (Sharp, Polk-Songs of England, Book II), pp. 47-43 ("The Lincolnshire Farmer"); Journal of the Folk-Song Society, "'Ill, 180-,82. For further references see Kittredge, Journal, xxx, 367.
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21. THE HIGHWAY ROBBER
Sung by George Edison, Fleur de Lys, 1929.
1 'Tis of a rich merchant of London,
Who had lots o[ land that he sold,
Who sent out his daughter to market
To receive every penny in gold.
2 She sewed the gold up in her saddle,
And that with good leathers well-lined;
She sewed the gold up in her saddle,
For fear any danger would find.
She sewed the gold up in her saddle
And starts out for home on the highway;
She chanced for to meet a bold robber,
He hid this [air damsel to stay.
4 Three blows of his whistle be gave her,
And the pistol he popped to her breast,
Saying, "Now deliver your money,
Or else you'll die a cruel death."
5 This fair pretty maiden got frightened,
And so did Dobbin her steed;
Down off his saddle she lightened,
And Dobbin trots home with good speed.
6 He stripped this fair damsel stark naked
And gives her his horse for to bold;
She stood there a-shivering and a-shaking
Like she was dying with cold.
7 This fair pretty maiden got courage
While he was in search of his prey;
She says, "Young man, it's no time to be idle;
I'll show you a trick on highway."
From stirrup to saddle she mounted,
She threw her legs 'cross like a man,
She drove the thief's horse off on stretch gallup:
"Now catch me, bold thief, if you can."
9 He runned and he bawled and he shouted,
He runned and he puffed and he blowed,
He runned and he bawled and he shouted,
" Come back, and I'll give you your clothes."
10 "My clothes ain't of very much value,
You can keep them, kind sir, if you please."
He runned and he bawled and he shouted,
Till his boots they hackered his heels.
II She rode over hills and through valleys
And places she knew very well;
She leaved the old thief with a trifle,
About five shillings to tell.
12 She rode over hills and through valleys,
And arrived at her home twelve o'clock;
Her father was very much frightened
To see her ride home in her smock.
13 She shoved the thief's horse in the stable,
And in his portmantel she found
Some hundred of sparkling hright diamonds
To the value of ten thousand pounds.
14 "Here's five thousand pounds for you, pa,
And I will keep Jive thousand more.
Don't you think it a suitable trifle
To keep the wolf from the door?"
This is "The Maid of Rygate" in Logan, A Pedlar's Pad, pp. 134-136, but differs a good deal. Other versions of the same piece may be seen in [Leigh,] Ballads atld Legends oj Cheshire, pp. 26'-268; Pitts' broadside (" Highwayman Outwitted by Farmer's Daughter"); Journalof the Folk-Song Society, I, 236- 237; 21-22; Sharp and Marson, Folk Songs Somerset. No. SO, il, SO-Sf
(and note, p. 72); This, like "The Little Yorkshire Boy," seems to be a parallel to "The Crafty Farmer" (Child, No. 283). A different piece, but somewhat similar, is "Sweet Lovely Joan II (Sharp and Marson, No. 95, IV, 48-49i Merrick, Folk·Songs from Sussex (Sharp, Folk-Sollgs of Bllglalld, Book V), pp. 47-49; Sharp, One Hundred English Folksongs, No. 57, and note, p. xxxiv).