The False Knight and the Wee Boy; Ewan MacColl
[No informant given, recorded later by MacColl. This is an arrangement published by Moffat in 1933, p.24 and should not be considered to be traditional. Bronson says the melody was "probably from Motherwell" while the text appears to taken from Mrs. McGill's New Brunswick version (British Ballads of Maine, 1929) with slight modification. It was recorded by Ewan MacColl on the Long Harvest, 1967.
R. Matteson 2011-2018]
The False Knight and the Wee Boy- Sheet music from Moffat (1933) This is a similar melody as MacColl's.
"O where are ye gaun to, my wee lad?"
Quo' the False Knight on the road
"I'm gaun to the schule," said the bonnie, bonnie boy
And still, still he stood.
"And what is't ye have upon your back?"
"Atweel, it's my books," said the bonnie, bonnie boy
"And what is that ye've in your arm?"
"Atweel, it's my peat," said the bonnie, bonnie boy
"Wha' owns the sheep upon the hill?"
"They're mine and my mither's," said the bonnie, bonnie boy
"How many of them are mine, my lad?"
"A' those wi' blue tails," said the bonnie, bonnie boy
"I wish that ye were on yonder tree,"
"Wi' a ladder under me," said the bonnie, bonnie boy
"And the ladder to break below ye,"
"And you to fa' down," said the bonnie, bonnie boy
"I wish ye were now in yonder sea,"
"Wi' a guid ship under me," said the bonnie, bonnie boy
"And the ship for to break and sink wi' ye,"
"And ye to be drowned!" said the bonnie, bonnie boy