John Sold the Cow Well- Tuggle (MI-Canada) 1931 Gardner/Chickering p. 157, Version A
[From: Ballads and Songs of Southern Michigan. Gardner/Chickering give us B and C without any texts: B The Little Yorkshire Boy The Lambertson manuscript. A good text of thirteen stanzas somewhat similar to A; C The London Mason
The Gernsey manuscript. A text of thirteen stanzas somewhat similar to A.
R. Matteson 2014]
JOHN SOLD THE COW WELL
(Secondary form, Child, No. 283)
The Child texts concern a crafty farmer who, going to pay his rent, outwits a highwayman For British texts se&JFSS, II, 174-176; Logan, p 131; C. J Sharp, Folk Songs from the Eastern Counties (London, 1908), pp. 42-43; and Williams, pp. 253-255. Michigan A is so similar to Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, pp. 406-408, text A, as to indicate that they had a common source. For additional versions and references see Greenleaf and Mansfield, pp. 44-46, Henry, JAFL, XLV, 30-34; and Sandburg, pp. 118-119
John Sold the Cow Well- Version A was communicated in 1931 by Miss Mabel Tuggle, Detroit, who obtained the song from Mr. Jason Taylor, of English descent; he had learned it in Canada.
1. In London there lived a blacksmith by trade;
He had for his servants a man and a maid;
A Yorkshire boy he had for his man,
And for to do his business, his name it was John.
2. Early one morning he called up his man John;
John heard his master and quickly did come down;
"John, take the cow and drive her to the fair,
For she is in good order; it is all we have to spare."
3. John took the cow out of the barn
And drove her to the fair as we do learn;
While on the highway he met three men
To whom he sold the cow for a six pound ten.
4. He went into the tavern for to get a drink,
And there the old landlord soon paid him down the chink;
And then to the landlady he did say,
"What shall I do with my money, I pray?"
5. "In the lining of your coat sew it up," said she,
"For fear on the highway that robbed you might be."
A highwayman sitting behind him drinking of his wine,
Says he to himself, "That money is mine."
6. John took his leave home for to go,
The highwayman following after also;
He overtook the boy upon the highway,
"You are well overtaken, young man," he did say.
7 "Jump up behind me and take a ride."
"How far are you going?" the boy he replied.
"About four miles, as you do know."
He jumped up behind him and away they did go.
8 They rode till they came to a long dark lane,
"And here," said the robber,
"I'll tell you very plain, Deliver up your money without fear or strife,
Or oil this very night I will take your tender life."
9 John seeing there was no room for dispute,
Jumped off of the horse without fear or doubt;
From the lining of his coat the money he pulled out,
And in the tall grass he strewed it all about.
10 The highwayman jumped off from his horse,
So little did he think it would be to his loss;
While gathering up the money where John had it strewed,
John jumped on horseback and away he rode.
11. The highwayman called to John for to stay,
But John never heeded but still rode away;
And unto his master he did bring
Horse, saddle, and bridle, and many a fine thing.
12 The maid seeing John coming home,
Went to acquaint her master in the next room;
He came to the door and says to him thus:
"Why, John, has my cow turned into a horse?"
13 "O no, good master, your cow I sold,
Was robbed of the money by a highwayman bold;
While gathering up the money to put in his purse,
I jumped on horseback and rode off with his horse."
14 The saddlebags were taken, and soon it was told
Five hundred pounds in silver and gold,
Besides a brace of pistols. Says John, "I vow,
I think, good master, I have well sold your cow."
15 "O as for a boy you have done very rare.
Three parts of this money shall be to your share;
And as for the villain, you served him just right,
I am sure you put upon him the true Yorkshire bite!"