Bow Lamkins- Hollon (OK-IL) c1919 Moores
[My date. From Ballads and Folk Songs of the southwest ; Moores, 1964. Their notes follow.
R. Matteson 2015]
26 Lamkin
THE ballad Lamkin (Child, No. 93) was once quite popular in the British Isles, there being twenty-six versions in the Child collection. It is very rare in Oklahoma. Child, II,32O, tells its story thus: "A mason has built a castle for a nobleman, cannot get his pay, and therefore seeks revenge. . . . The lord, having occasion to leave his family, fears mischief from the man whom he has wronged, and enjoins his wife to keep the castle well fastened. Precautions are taken, but nevertheless his enemy effects an entrance through some aperture that has not been secured . . .or by connivance with a nurse. . . . Most of the servants are away. To get at the lady, Lamkin . . . by advice of the nurse inflicts some hurt on the babe in the cradle, stabbing it, and its cries bring the mother down. The lady proffers large sums of gold to save her life, but Lamkin does not care for gold now. He gloats over his opportunity, and bids the nurse . . . to r.out a silver bason to hold the lady's noble blood. The lord has a presentiment of calamity at home, and, returning, finds his house red with the blood of his wife and child." Both Lamkin and the nurse are punished to death.
Texts and references may be found in Barry, Eckstorm and Smyth,200-206; Brewster, 1 22-24; Chappell, 16; Child, II, 320-42; Davis, 354-59; Eddy, 59-61; Gardner and Chickering, 313-16; Jamieson, I, 176-81; Journal, vol. XIII, 17 (Newell), vol.
xxIX, 162 (Tolman), vol. xxx, 318, Vol. xxxv,34a (Tolman and Eddy), Vol. XLIV, 61; Motherwell, II, 164-70; Randolph, I, 141-42; and Sharp, I, 201-207.
Bow Lamkin - was sung by Mrs. Effie Hollon of Lane. Hollon was from Illinois and moved to Oklahoma around 1900. Her people were originally from New England.
Said the landlord to his lady,
"I'm going away,
And what would be the odds
If Bow Lamkin should come?"
"What care I for Bow Lamkin,
And all of his kin,
When I'm locked in my bedchamber,
With my windows pinned in?"
Bow Lamkin he came and he knocked
On the door.
"Where's the landlord's lady?
Is she about home?"
"Yes, yes," said the servant,
"She's up in her room."
"How will we contrive
To bid her come down?"
"Just stick that little baby
With a silver bowed pin."
"Oh, hushy, cry baby,
Tal-a-lal-a, by-by!"
"What ails my dear baby?
What makes it loud cry?"
"You will have to come down
And take it on your lap,
For I can't keep it quiet
With a rock and a pat."
The lady came down,
Not thinking any harm,
When Bow Lamkin he seized her,
He seized her in his arms.
"Bow Lamkin, Bow Lamkin,
Pray spare me my life;
I'll give you as much gold
As you can pack on your back."
"Not for as much gold
As the rocks in the streams,
Would keep my bright sword
From your tender heart.
"Go and bring a gold vessel
To catch her blood in."
[Words not remembered by singer.]