Bluegrass Messengers

King Orfeo- Coutts (Shetland) 1880 Child A

King Orfeo- Version A; Child 19 The Leisure Hour, February 14, 1880, No 1468, p. 109. Obtained from the singing of Andrew Coutts, an old man in Unst, Shetland, by Mr. Biot Edmondston.

1. Der lived a king inta da aste,
Scowan ürla grün
Der lived a lady in da wast.
Whar giorten han grün oarlac

2. Dis king he has a huntin gaen,
Scowan ürla grün
He's left his Lady Isabel alane.
Whar giorten han grün oarlac

3. 'Oh I wis ye'd never gaen away,
Scowan ürla grün
For at your hame is d'ol an wae.
Whar giorten han grün oarlac

4. 'For da king o Ferrie we his daert,
Scowan ürla grün
Has pierced your lady to da hert.'
Whar giorten han grün oarlac
* * * * *

5. And aifter dem da king has gaen,
Scowan ürla grün
But whan he cam it was a grey stane.
Whar giorten han grün oarlac

6. Dan he took oot his pipes ta play,
Scowan ürla grün
Bit sair his hert wi d'ol an wae.
Whar giorten han grün oarlac

7. And first he played da notes o noy,
Scowan ürla grün
An dan he played da notes o joy.
Whar giorten han grün oarlac

8. An dan he played da g'od gabber reel,
Scowan ürla grün
Dat meicht ha made a sick hert hale.
Whar giorten han grün oarlac
* * * * *

9. 'Noo come ye in inta wir ha,
Scowan ürla grün
An come ye in among wis a'.'
Whar giorten han grün oarlac

10. Now he's gaen in inta der ha,
Scowan ürla grün
An he's gaen in among dem a'.
Whar giorten han grün oarlac

11. Dan he took out his pipes to play,
Scowan ürla grün
Bit sair his hert wi d'ol an wae.
Whar giorten han grün oarlac

12. An first he played da notes o noy,
Scowan ürla grün
An dan he played da notes o joy.
Whar giorten han grün oarlac

13. An dan he played da g'od gabber reel,
Scowan ürla grün
Dat meicht ha made a sick hert hale.
Whar giorten han grün oarlac

14. 'Noo tell to us what ye will hae:
Scowan ürla grün
What sall we gie you for your play?
Whar giorten han grün oarlac

15. 'What I will hae I will you tell,
Scowan ürla grün
An dat's me Lady Isabel.'
Whar giorten han grün oarlac

16. 'Yees tak your lady, an yees gaeng hame,
Scowan ürla grün
An yees be king ower a' your ain.'
Whar giorten han grün oarlac

17. He's taen his lady, an he's gaen hame,
Scowan ürla grün
An noo he's king ower a' his ain.
Whar giorten han grün oarlac