Bluegrass Messengers

The King of Fairies (There Were Three Ladies Playing at the Ba')- Campbell, pre-1830, Child L

[This ballad was not in Child's Volume 1 but was added in Vol. 2. This appears in Volume 2 p. 253 titled Advertisement: "To Sir Hugh Hume Campbell, for the use of two considerable manuscript volumes of Scottish ballads." Both ballads, Child L and M, come from Campbell's collection.

Sir Hugh Hume-Campbell Baronet, born 15 Dec., 1812, died 30 Jan., 1894, London, England, was in possession of two ballad collections which Child called The Campbell Manuscripts.

Campbell MSS., 1830 or earlier: 'Old Scottish Songs collected in the counties of Berwick, Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles.' 2 volumes. Collector unknown. At Marchmont House, Berwickshire.

R. Matteson 2014, 2018]

The King of Fairies-  Anon informant from Campbell Manuscripts, II, 19. (Added in Volume 2)

1 There were three ladies playing at the ba',
      With a hey and a lilly gay
When the King o Fairies rode by them a'.
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

2 The foremost one was clad in blue;
      With a hey and a lilly gay
He askd at her if she'd be his doo.
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

3  The second of them was clad in red;
      With a hey and a lilly gay
He asked at her if she'd be his bride.
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

4    The next of them was clad in green;
      With a hey and a lilly gay
He askd at her if she'd be his queen.
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

5    'Go you ask at my father then,
      With a hey and a lilly gay
And you may ask at my mother then.
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

6    'You may ask at my sister Ann,
      With a hey and a lilly gay
And not forget my brother John.'
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

7    'O I have askd at your father then,
      With a hey and a lilly gay
And I have askd at your mother then.
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

8    'And I have askd at your sister Ann,
      With a hey and a lilly gay
But I've quite forgot your brother John.'
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

9    Her father led her down the stair,
      With a hey and a lilly gay
Her mother combd down her yellow hair.
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

10    Her sister Ann led her to the cross,
      With a hey and a lilly gay
And her brother John set her on her horse.
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

11    'Now you are high and I am low,
      With a hey and a lilly gay
Give me a kiss before ye go.'
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

12    She's lootit down to gie him a kiss,
      With a hey and a lilly gay
He gave her a deep wound and didna miss.
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

13    And with a penknife as sharp as a dart,
      With a hey and a lilly gay
And he has stabbit her to the heart.
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

14    'Ride up, ride up,' says the foremost man,
      With a hey and a lilly gay
'I think our bride looks pale an wan.'
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

15    'Ride up, ride up,' says the middle man,
      With a hey and a lilly gay
'I see her heart's blude trinkling down.'
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

16    'Ride on, ride,' says the Fairy King,
      With a hey and a lilly gay
'She will be dead lang ere we win hame.'
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

17    'O I wish I was at yonder cross,
      With a hey and a lilly gay
Where my brother John put me on my horse.
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

18    'I wish I was at yonder thorn,
      With a hey and a lilly gay
I wad curse the day that ere I was born.
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

19    'I wish I was at yon green hill,
      With a hey and a lilly gay
Then I wad sit and bleed my fill.'
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

20    'What will you leave your father then?'
      With a hey and a lilly gay
'The milk-white steed that I ride on.'
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

21    'What will you leave your mother then?'
      With a hey and a lilly gay
'My silver Bible and my golden fan.'
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

22    'What will ye leave your sister Ann?'
      With a hey and a lilly gay
'My good lord, to be married on.'
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

23    'What will ye leave your sister Pegg?'
      With a hey and a lilly gay
'The world wide to go and beg.'
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

24    'What will you leave your brother John?'
      With a hey and a lilly gay
'The gallows-tree to hang him on.'
      And the roses they grow sweetlie

25    'What will you leave your brother's wife?'
      With a hey and a lilly gay
'Grief and sorrow to end her life.'
      And the roses they grow sweetlie