False Lambkin- Goon (OH) 1916 Eddy; Leach D
[From: Some Songs Traditional in the United States by Albert H. Tolman; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 29, No. 112 (Apr. - Jun., 1916), pp. 155-197. Also in Ballads and Songs from Ohio, Eddy, 1939. Also reprinted by Leach, version D.
R. Matteson 2015]
93. LAMKIN.
American texts: Child, v, 295; we learn about another American variant at iii, 515; this Journal, xiii, 117. English texts: Journal of Folk-Song Society, i, 212; ii, III. [1]
False Lambkin- This version was obtained through Miss Mary O. Eddy from Miss Jane Goon, both of Perrysville, O. It is the only full American version that I know of. [2]
1. False Lambkin was a mason,
As good as ever laid stone;
He built Lord Arnold's castle,
And the Lord paid him none.
2. False Lambkin he swore
That revenged he would be
On Lord Arnold's castle,
Or on his family.
3. Said the Lord to his Lady,
"I'm going from home;
And what would you do,
If False Lambkin should come?"
4. "Oh, I fear not False Lambkin,
Nor more of his kind;
For I'll keep my doors fastened,
And my windows pinned in."
5. So she kept her doors fastened,
And her windows pinned in,
All except one kitchen window,
Where Lambkin came in.
6. "Oh, where is Lord Arnold?
Is he not at home?"
"No; he['s] gone to old Ireland
To see his dear son."
7. "Oh, where is his Lady?
Has she gone along?"
"No; she's in her chamber,
Where no man can get in."
8. "Oh, what shall I do,
That I may get in?"
"You must pierce this little babe's heart
With your silver bodkin."
9. So he pierced the little babe's heart,
Till the blood did spin
Out into the cradle.
So falsely she did sing:
10. "Oh, hushy-by baby.
Oh, what aileth thee?
Come down, loving mistress;
Oh, come down and see."
11. "Oh, how can I come down
So late in the night,
When there is no moon a-shining,
Nor stars to give light?"
12. "Oh, your [you've?] seven bright lanterns,
As bright as the sun.
Come down, loving mistress;
Oh, come down by one."
13. She had not advanced
But steps two or three,
Till she spied False Lambkin
A-standing close by.
14. "Oh, spare me, False Lambkin;
And I will go back,
And get you all the money
You can carry in your sack."
15. "I want none of your money,
Nor nothing that I know,
That will spare this bright sword
From your neck white as snow."
16. "Oh, spare me, False Lambkin;
Oh, spare me one hour;
And I'll call down daughter Betsey,
The queen of the bower."
17. "Go, call down daughter Betsey,
So neat and so clean,
To hold the silver basin
To catch your blood in."
18. "Daughter Betsey, stay up
In your chamber so high,
Till you see your dear father
In a ship sailing nigh."
19. Daughter Betsey staid up
In her chamber so high,
Till she saw her dear father
In a ship sailing nigh.
20. When Lord Arnold came to the castle
And opened the door,
He saw his companion
Lying dead on the floor.
21. False Lambkin was hung
On a gallows so high;
And the false nurse was burnt
To a stake standing by.
Footnotes:
1 [Also Leather, Folk-Lore of Herefordshire, 1912, pp. 199-200. "Lamkin" occurs among broadsides issued by Pitts (Harvard College, 25242.2, fol. 162; cf. 25242.7, p. 55, and 25242.25, P. 52).
2 [A version from Michigan in the MS. collection of Mr. Bertrand L. Jones closely resembles this text. Mr. Jones prints the first stanza of his copy in the Kalamazoo Normal Record, May, 1914 (Western State Normal School, Kalamazoo).]