Bodown (Bo Down)- Primrose (Lanc) John Francis Campbell, 1861, Child Rb.
[The text of Child Version R b., was assembled from changes to Ra. "Three Sisters" published in Notes and Corrections. It comes from comes from John Francis Campbell, author of Popular Tales of the West Highlands. Campbell published part of the text in 1862 in Volume 4 page 125.
Child R has three versions:
a. 'The Three Sisters,' Notes and Q., 1st S., vi, 102.
b. 'Bodown,' communicated by J. F. Campbell, Esq.
c. 'The Barkshire Tragedy,' The Scouring of the White Horse, p. 158.
"Bo down" is probably for "Bow down,"
R. Matteson 2014, 2018]
Bodown (Bo Down)- Written down for John Francis Campbell, Esq., Nov. 7, 1861, at Wishaw House, Lancashire, by Lady Louisa Primrose.
1. A farmer there lived in the north countree,
Bo down*
And he had daughters one, two, three.
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true unto me
2. The eldest she had a lover come,
Bo down
And he fell in love with the younger one.
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true unto me
3. He bought the younger a beaver hat,
Bo down
The elder she thought she thought much of that.
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true unto me
4. To the younger he gave a gay gold chain,
Bo down
And the eldest wanting much of the same.
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true unto me
5. The sisters they walkt by the river brim,
Bo down,
And the elder pushed the younger in.
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true unto me
6. 'O sister, O sister, O lend me your hand,
Bo down,
And I will give you both houses and land.'
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true unto me
7. 'I'll neither give you my hand nor glove,
Bo down,
Unless you give me my true love.'
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true unto me
8. Away she sank, away she swam,
Bo down,
Until she came to a miller's dam.
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true unto me
9. The miller's daughter was at the door,
Bo down,
As sweet as any gillyflower.
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true unto me
10. O father, O father, there swims a swain,
Bo down,
And he looks like a gentleman.
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true unto me
11. The miller he fetcht his line and hook,
Bo down,
And he fisht the fair maiden out of the brook.
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true unto me
12. O miller, I'll give you guineas ten,
Bo down,
If you'll take me back to my father again.'
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true unto me
13. The miller he took her guineas ten,
Bo down,
And then he popt her in again.
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true unto me
14. The miller was hanged behind his back gate,
Bo down,
For drowning the farmer's daughter Kate.
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true unto me
15. The sister she sailed over the sea,
Bo down,
And died an old maid of a hundred and three.
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true unto me
16. The lover became a beggar man,
Bo down,
And he drank out of a rusty tin can.
And I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true unto me
-----------------
Footnotes:
*The burden is given as Bo down, bo down, etc., in Popular Tales of the West Highlands, iv, 125.
Stanzas 8, 11, 12, 14, 15 are cited in Popular Tales of the West Highlands, iv, 127.