Lord Batesman- Hembree (Ark.) c.1899 Randolph E
[My title. From Randolph; Ozark Folksongs, Vol. 1, 1946; British Ballads and Songs.
R. Matteson 2014]
E. Lord Batesman- Sung by Mr. Wiley Hembree, Farmington, Ark., Dec. 12, 1941. Learned from his parents near Farmington, about 1899. Randolph E
1. Lord Batesman was a brave young man,
As brave a young man as you €ever did see,
He bundled his rings and jewels,
And vowed strange countries he'd go see.
He flew east and he flew west
He flew among some Turks
Those Turks they did so badly abuse him
That he became wearied of his life.
Those Turks they took and put him in prison,
They bound him down in every way,
They fed him on just bread and water,
Just bread and water once a day.
Those Turks they had a lovely daughter,
As fair a young miss as you ever did see,
She stole the keys of her father's prison
And vowed Lord Batesman she would set free.
She taken him down in her father's cellar,
The best of drinks that they had was wine,
She drank her health in every . . . . to him,
And said Lord Batesman, I wish you was mine.
They made a bargain and they made it strong,
For seven long years to stand,
And if you will wed no other lady
I'm sure I'll wed no other man.
She taken him down unto the sea shore,
To watch him sail far over the main,
Saying farewell, farewell my own dear creature,
When shall I see your fair face again?
She dwell-ed there for seven long years.
For seven long years and three,
She bundled up her rings and jewels
And vowed Lord Batesman she'd go see.
She rode, she.rode till she come to a castle,
And there so loudly she did ring,
Who's there, who's there? cried the proud young porter,
That rings so shrill but won't come in
Is this then Lord Batesman's castle,
Or is it a place that he dwells in?
Oh yes, oh yes, it is Lord Batesman's castle,
But just today he brought his new bride in.
Is this, is this the truth you're telling,
which I suppose it for to be?
I wisht I had my . . . . . .
And back in my own country free.
You go before your worthy master
Down on your bended knees,
And ask him if he don't remember,
A Turkish lady that set him free.
He went before his worthy master
Down on his bended knees,
Says at your gate there stands a-waiting
As fair a young miss as you ever did see.
She has a ring on every finger,
And on the middle one she has three,
She told me to ask if you don't remember
A Turkish lady that set you free.
Lord Batesman bowed, not a word was spoken,
Not a word but three,
I'll forfeit all my land and livin'
If Susy Fair has crossed the sea.
Up stepped, up stepped his new bride's mother,
A very well spoken old lady was she,
Says will you forsake my own fair daughter
And marry you a Turkish lady?
Your daughter is fair, I must acknowledge,
But what is she to the worth of me?
She came to me on a horse and saddle
And I'll send her away on coaches three.
He taken Susy by her lily-white hand,
He led her into . . . . room,
He changed her name from Susy Fair
And now she's called Lady Batesman.