John Barbour- Abbott (NL) 1929 Greenleaf C
[One of three versions from Ballads and Sea Songs of Newfoundland- Greenleaf and Mansfield 1933. Notes by Kittredge follow.
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
This charming ballad is one of the most popular songs in Newfoundland. It is known and sung by the young people in all parts of the island. The English ballad is evidently the source, as the lover's name is invariably "Barbour" in Newfoundland, and not "Willie," as in most of the Scottish versions (Keith, No. 37, "Thomas"). It seems strange that a ballad so popular in Newfoundland should not be sung extensively in North America, but other collectors have not recorded it except for an imperfect text in Combs) pp. 140-141 (West Virginia); d. Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, pp. 224-225.
C. JOHN BARBOUR- Sung by Peter Abbott, Twillingate, 1929.
[music]
1 "What's the matter with my daughter?" the old man said,
"For she seems so sick and wan.
She must have some kind of a fever," he said,
Or in love with some young man."
(Refrain: repeat the last line.)
2 "I have no kind of a fever," she said,
"Nor in love with no young man,
But I'm thinking of my own true love,
For he is now sailing. "
3 " Is he a king or is he a lord,
Or is he a man of fame,
Or is he one of my sailor boys?
I pray you tell me his name."
4 "He's not a king, nor he's not a lord,
Nor he's not a man of fame,
But he is one of your sailor boys,
John Barbour is his name.""
5 "Go bring John Barbour unto me," he said,
"Go bring him unto me,
And to-morrow morning at eight o'clock
We'll hang him to a tree."
6 "If you hang John Barbour to a tree," she said,
"If you hang him to a tree,
If you hang John Barbour to a tree," she said,
"You'll get no good of me."
7 So early next morning John Barbour arrived,
And his suit were all in green,
His teeth were of the ivory white,
He was fair as any king.
8 "I will make no wonder," the old man said,
"That my daughter is in love with you,
For if I were a maid instead of a man,
I would die for the love of you."
9 "Will you wed my daughter?" the old man said,
"Will you wed her by the hand?
Will you come and dine at my table
Coming in for all of my land,"
10 "I'll wed your daughter," John Barbour said,
"I'll wed her by the hand;
I'll come and dine at your table,
But a flux with you and your land."