False Knight On The Road- Steeleye Span
[From the Album: Stack of Steeleye Span; 1971.
The Steeleye span version (from an unknown informant but probably cover song) is an updated rendition of Child A, Motherwell's text with several "new" verses and an additional last verse similar to the version from Mrs. T. G. Coates, TN, which was collected by Sharp in 1916.
The melody is a traditional tune known as "The Rose Tree" and represents a specific melody used for Scottish versions of The False Knight. A version from an unknown group was collected by Peter Cook at the School of Scottish Studies in 1972. See also versions by Scottish travellers and Norman Kennedy's version recorded in 1968 by Sandy Patton.
Liner notes add:
The False Knight is the devil and if the 'wee boy' failed to answer his questions he would lose his soul to the devil.
Listen on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHqFyRT1AhU
R. Matteson 2011]
False Knight On The Road- Steeleye Span sung to the tune, "Rose Tree."
"Oh, where are you going," says the false knight on the road
"I'm going to me school," says the wee boy and still he stood
"What is on your back," says the false knight on the road
"Me bundles and me books," says the wee boy and still he stood
"I came and walking by your door," says the false knight on the road
"That lay in your way," says the wee boy and still he stood
"Flung your dog a stone," says the false knight on the road
"I wish it was a bone," says the wee boy and still he stood
"Oh, what sheep and cattle's that," says the false knight on the road
"They're mine and me father's," says the wee boy and still he stood
"And how many shall be mine," says the false knight on the road
"The ones that have a blue tail," says the wee boy and still he stood
"Oh, then I get a share o' them," says the false knight on the road
"You cannot get a share of them," says the wee boy and still he stood
"And why the stick all in your hand," says the false knight on the road
"To keep me from all cold and harm," says the wee boy and still he stood
"Oh, I wish you were in younder tree," says the false knight on the road
"A ladder under me," says the wee boy and still he stood
"The ladder it'll break," says the false knight on the road
"And you will surely fall," says the wee boy and still he stood
"I wish you were in younder sea," says the false knight on the road
"A good boat under me," says the wee boy and still he stood
"The boat will surely sink," says the false knight on the road
"And you will surely drown," says the wee boy and still he stood
"Has your mother more than you," says the false knight on the road
"Oh, none of them for you," says the wee boy and still he stood
"I think I hear a bell," says the false knight on the road
"It's ringing you to hell," says the wee boy and still he stood