Lord Batesman- Gilbert (Ark.) 1959 Wolfe Folklore
[From Wolf Folklore Collection. I'm including the version from her husband, Ollie Gilbert (from Max Hunter Collection) below.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
LORD BATESMAN Sung by: Mrs. Ollie Gilbert; Recorded in Timbo, AR 10/13/59
[Listen: Mrs. Ollie Gilbert]
There was a man in the state of Georgia,
And he did live to a high degree,
But he could never live contented
Until he taken a voyage on the sea.
He sailed east, and he sailed west,
And he sailed ‘til he came to the Turkish shore,
And there he was caught and put in prison.
No hopes of freedom any more.
The jailer had one only daughter,
And she was as fair as fair could be.
She stole the keys of her father’s prison,
Saying, “This Lord Batesman I’ll set free.
“Have you got a house, have you got land,
Have you got money to a high degree?
And will you give it to a lady
Who will from prison set you free?”
“Yes, I’ve got a house, and I’ve got land,
And I’ve got money to a high degree,
And I will give it to a lady
Who will from prison set me free.”
She taken him to her father’s cellar,
And there she treated him on wine so strong,
And every glass that she drank with him,
Saying, “Wish Lord Batesman were my own.”
She taken him to her father’s castle,
And there engaged a ship for him.
“Farewell, farewell, my own true lover;
I’m afraid we’ll never meet again.”
“Three long years we’ll make the bargain,
Three long years, and here’s my hand.
If you won’t court no other lady,
I'm sure I'll court no other man.”
Three long years had passed and over,
Three long years, just one two three.
“I’ll dress myself in my fine jewels,”
Saying, “This Lord Batesman I’ll go see.”
She sailed ‘til she came to Lord Batesman’s castle.
She knocked at the door ‘til she made it ring.
“Go out, go out, my poor old servant,
And see who’s there that will come in.”
“Here stands a lady at your door,
And she’s as fair as fair can be.
She wears enough jewelry ‘round her neck
To buy your bride Comridge Inn.”
“Oh, is this here Lord Batesman’s castle,
Or is he here or gone away?”
“Oh, yes, oh, yes, this is his castle.
He's just now brought his new bride in.”
“Go tell him to send me a slice of his bread,
And send me a glass of his wine so strong,
And ask him if he remembers the lady
Who set him free when he was bound.”
[Note: Mrs. Gilbert says “Comridge Inn” means “All her possessions.”]
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Lord Batesman- As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on May 26, 1969 Max Hunter collection
Listen:http://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=0744
VERSE 1
There was a man in the state of Georgey
An' he did live to a high degree
But he never did live contented
Until he taken a voyage on th sea
VERSE 2
He sailed east an' he sailed west
An' he sailed till he came to the Turkish shore
An' there he's caught an' put in prison
No hope of free-dom any more
VERSE 3
Th jailer had one lonely daughter
An' she's as fair as fair could be
She stoled th keys of 'er Fathers prison
Saying, this Lord Batesman, I'll set free
VERSE 4
Have you got house, have you got land
Have you got money to a high degree
An' will you give it to a lady
Who will from prison, set you free
VERSE 5
Yes, I've got house and I've got land
And I've got money to a high degree
And I will give it to a lady
Who will from prison set me free
VERSE 6
She taken 'im to her Father's cellar
And there she treated 'im on wine so strong
And ever glass she drank with 'im
Saying, I wish Lord Batesman were my own
VERSE 7
She taken 'im to her Father's castle
An' there engaged a ship for him
Farewell, farewell, my own true lover
I'm afraid we'll never meet again
VERSE 8
Three long years, we'll make th bargin
Three long years, an' here's my hand
If you won't court no other lady
Sure I'll court no other man
VERSE 9
Three long years had passed and over
Three long years, just one, two, three
I'll dress myself in my fine jewels
Sayin, this Lord Batesman I'll go see
VERSE 10
She sailed till she came t' Lord Batesman's castle
She knocked at th door, till she made it ring
Go out, go out, my poor old servant
And see who's there, that will come in
VERSE 11
Here stands a lady at your door
An' she's as fair as fair can be
She wears enough jewel'y around her neck
To buy your bride an' comrades in
VERSE 12
O, is this here Lord Batesman's castle
Or is he here 'er gone away
O yes, O yes, this is his castle
He's just now brought his new bride in
VERSE 13
Go tell 'im t' send me a slice of his bread
And send me a glass of his wine so strong
And ask 'im if he re-member th lady
That set 'im free when he was bound