Lord Bakeman- Masters (FL) pre1950 Morris
[From: Folksongs of Florida; Morris 1950.
R. Matteson 2014]
"LORD BAKEMAN." communicated by Miss Mildred Masters, Punta Gorda, Florida.
Lord Bakeman he had land and he had houses,
He had living of high degree;
But tired of life he went
Prowling o'er the sea.
He sailed east, he sailed west,
He sailed to that Turkish shore,
And there he got himself imprisoned;
No hopes of freedom any more.
The jailer had a beautiful daughter,
As bright and fair as the morning dew;
She stole the keys from her father's pockets,
Saying, "Lord Bakeman should be set free."
"Lord Bakeman, you have lands and you have houses,
You have living of high degree,
And would you give it to a lady
Who from your iron bonds set you free?"
"Oh yes, oh yes, I have land and I have houses,
I have living of high degree,
And surely would I give it to a lady
Who from my iron bonds set me free."
"Oh make this bargain with me,
And for seven long year shall it stand,
That you will marry no other lady,
And I will marry no other man."
"Oh yes, I will make this bargain with you,
For seven long year shall it stand,
That I will marry no other lady,
And you will marry no other man."
Oh seven years had passed away,
And seven long year and two or three,
At last one day she gathered up her gold and jewels,
Saying Lord Bakeman she would go see.
Then she sailed east, she sailed west,
To that English shore; she went from castle to castle,
Asking if this might be Lord Bakeman's castle,
Or was Lord Bakeman himself within.
"Oh yes, oh yes, this is Lord Bakeman's castle;
Lord Bakeman and his new bride just entered in."
"Go tell Lord Bakeman I wish a slice of his bread,
And a bottle of his wine so strong,
And for him never to forget the lady
That set him free from his iron bonds."
Up steps Lord Bakeman's porter,
Bowing low upon his knees.
"Oh rise, oh rise, my good porter,
And tell me all that has happened for seven long years."
"I've been your porter for seven long years,
For seven long year and two or three,
And at your gate stands the fairest lady
That my two eyes ever did see.
"She wears more gold about her clothing
Than your new bride and all her company.
She wears a diamond ring on her little finger,
And on her others two or three.
"She wishes a slice of Lord Bakeman's bread,
And a bottle of his wine so strong,
And for him never to forget the lady
Who set him free from his iron bonds."
Lord Bakeman rose; he stamped the floor;
He splintered his table[1] as it was in three.
"I would have let my land and houses
That my surcease[2] was across the sea."
Up stepped the new bride's mother, saying,
"I wish your sirs[3] might die for fear;
You now forsake my daughter
For the love of sirs may fly."
"And what if I do forsake your daughter,
She'll be none the worse by me.
I got her without horse, saddle, or bridle;
I'll send her home with a coach and three."
Lord Bakeman was married, 'twas in the morning;
Little thought he would be married so soon.
Lord Bakeman was married in the morning,
And was married again before it was noon.
1. usually it's "sword"
2. Clearly Morris (and possibly the informant) doesn't understand this or the "sirs" in the next stanza both are derivatives of her proper name, in this case it's probably "Susie."
3. Morris says in a footnote, "probably a corruption of sires used in the sense of lordships." Again it's a reference to "Susie" which has been shortened to "Sus" as sounded, "Suz."