Captain Wedderburn- 1857 Child B f.
[This version, B f., has only two verses. See the entire entry for this version from K. of Arbroath below from the 1857 Notes and Queries]
Captain Wedderburn- [my title] Child B f.
f. Notes and Queries, 2d S., IV, 170. Version B
"I must have to my supper a bird without a bone,
And I must have to my supper a cherry withoutenstone;
And I must have to my supper a bird withouten ga',
Before I lie in your bed either at[stock or wa'."
"When the bird is in the shell I'm sure it has no bone,
And when the cherry is in the bloom I'm sure it has no stone;
The Dove she is a gentle bird, she flies withouten ga'.
And so we'll lie in one bed, and you'll lie next the wa'."
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Corrections and Additions:
f. Stanzas 9, 10 only.
9[1. 'T is I maun hae to my supper a bird without a bone.
9[2. withouten stone.
9[3. withonten ga.
10[1. When the bird is in the shell, I'm sure.
10[2. I 'm sure.
10[3. a gentle ... withouten ga.
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From Notes and Queries, 2d S., IV, p. 170.
Old Ballad of the Mearns
— The following couplets form a portion of a song, or rather ancient ditty, which may yet be heard among the peasantry of the Mearns, and which my informant, a very sagacious person, tells me she has not only oftentimes heard sung, but sung herself in her younger days. The lines quoted are all which now apparently exist, and I should be glad to have the name of the author of the words, chiefly notable, I admit, for their simplicity. One "Captain Wedderburn, servant to the king," proposes to his mistress, who, it appears, is somewhat nice as respects her palate as well as her lovers; and she in reply, to try his troth, or perhaps from some wish to start difficulties in the way ol loves which before seemed to have "run smooth," is made to require of him as under:
"I must have to my supper a bird without a bone,
And I must have to my supper a cherry withoutenstone;
And I must have to my supper a bird withouten ga',
Before I lie in your bed either at[stock or wa'."
To these demands he replies:
"When the bird is in the shell I'm sure it has no bone,
And when the cherry is in the bloom I'm sure it has no stone;
The Dove she is a gentle bird, she flies withouten ga'.
And so we'll lie in one bed, and you'll lie next the wa'."
I should be glad to have the "hole in the ballad" supplied, or if you were to direct me to a quarter in which I can get it done, you will oblige-- K.
Arbroath.