False Knight on the Road- Maud Long of Hot Springs, North Carolina, at Washington, D. C., 1947. Recorded by Duncan Emrich
[From Recording by Duncan Emrich Maud Long of Hot Springs, North Carolina, at Washington, D. C., 1947.
R. Matteson 2018]
THE FALSE KNIGHT UPON THE ROAD. Sung by Mrs. Maud Long of Hot Springs, North Carolina, at Washington, D. C., 1947. Recorded by Duncan Emrich
As in "The Devil's Nine Questions," the basic idea underlying the ballad is that the devil can carry off the person questioned if he can nonplus him. The child here answers the devil's questions directly and turns back upon the devil the wishes which the latter makes until he finally places him in hell again. The boy presumably goes on to his school safely. The ballad is, of course, of British origin and American recovered texts and tunes· of it are scarce. For references, see: Arthur Kyle Davis, Traditional Ballads of Virginia (Harvard University Press, 1929) , p. 61.
Spoken: "And this is 'The False Knight Upon the Road. "
1. "Where are you going?" said the knight in the road.
"I'm going to my school," said the child as he stood.
He stood and he stood, he well thought on, he stood,
"I'm going to my school," said the child as he stood.
2. "Oh, what do you study there?" said the knight in the road.
"We learn the word of God," said the child as he stood.
He stood and he stood, he well thought on, he stood,
"We learn the word of God," said the child as he stood.
3. "Oh, what are you eating there?" said the knight in the road.
"I'm eating bread and cheese," said the child as he stood.
4. "Oh, won't you give me some?" said the night in the road.
"No, nare a bite nor crumb," said the child as he stood.
5. "I wish you were in the sea," said the knight in the road.
"A good boat under me," said the child as he stood.
6. "I wish you were in the sand," said the knight in the road.
"A good staff in my hand," said the child as he stood.
7. "I wish you were in a well," said the knight in the road.
"And you that deep in Hell," said the child as he stood.