Lord Daniel- Workman (KY) 1978 Recording
[From Nimrod Workman's CD, Mother Jones' Will (originally released on Rounder Records 1978) Musical Traditions- MTCD512. Notes from me (Wiki) and Musical Traditions follow.
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
Nimrod Workman (November 5, 1895 - November 26, 1994) was an American singer, coal miner and trade unionist. His musical repertoire included traditional English and Scottish ballads, Appalachian folk songs and original compositions. Although he spent time in WV in the 1920s this ballad was probably learned in his childhood in KY. The last verse is confused and Workman has reversed the roles of the adversaries.
5. Lord Daniel (Child 81, Roud 52). Three good American versions of this surprisingly popular ballad (which Child called Little Musgrave) can be heard on Musical Traditions: Eunice Yeatts MacAlexander, and Cas Wallin on MTCD503-4 and Mary Lozier, MTCD505-6. Nimrod's version is unusual in that Mathie Groves unexpectedly wins the concluding fight with Lord Daniel. I find it odd - but charming - that Nimrod (or his source) would have remembered such a long song with fair accuracy, yet forget how it was supposed to end! Some other good American versions: Joseph Trivett, Folk-Legacy 002, Jean Ritchie, Folkways 2302 (probably displaying some of the 'literary' influences that I discuss in track 11).
Well, the first come down was dressed in red
The next come down in green
Next come down was Daniel's wife
Fair as any queen, queen,
Fair as any queen.
"May I go home with you, little love,
Home with you tonight?
I can tell by the rings you wear
You are Lord Daniel's wife, wife
You are Lord Daniel's wife."
The little footpath was standing by
And he heard every word that was said
"If I don't die 'fore the break of day
Lord Daniel hear of that, that,
Lord Daniel'll hear of that."
Well, he had about sixteen mile to go
Eight of them he run
Run 'til he came to the broken down bridge
Fell to his breast and he swum, swum
Fell to his breast and he swum, swum
Rattled at the door and she rung
Rattled at the door and it rung, rung
Rattled at the door and it rung.
"What is the matter, my little footpath,
What is the matter now?"
"Another man's in the bed with your wife
And both their hearts is one, one
Both their hearts is one."
Well, he called his army to his side
Told them for to go.
They threw them bugles to their mouths
They began to blow, blow,
They began to blow.
"Get up, get up my own true love,
You better get up and go.
Lord Daniel's coming home this night,
I can hear them bugles blow, blow
Hear them bugles blow."
They began to hugging and a-kissing,
They both fell off to sleep.
When they awoke their hearts was broke
Lord Daniel was at their feet, feet
Lord Daniel was at their feet.
"Get up, get up, little Mathie Grove,
Fight me for your life."
"How can I fight you for my life,
You two brand new sword,
Me not much as a pocket knife, knife
Not much as a pocket knife?"
"Oh yes, I have two brand new swords,
The best I'll give to thee."
And the very first lick Lord Daniel took
Brought Mathie Grove to his knee,
And the very first lick little Mathie Grove took
He destroyed Lord Daniel's soul, soul,
He destroyed Lord Daniel's soul.