Lord Valley- Muchler (MI) pre1934 Gardner
[From: Ballads and Songs of Southern Michigan by Emelyn- Elizabeth Gardner and Geraldine Jencks Chickering, Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press London: Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press: 1939. Their notes follow.
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
7. LORD VALLEY (Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard, Child, No. 81)
This ballad was printed in broadside form early in the seventeenth century. The Michigan text differs considerably from any single Child version, but seems to be a fairly complete whole in itself. For other texts and a discussion of the ballad see Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, pp. 150-194; Bulletin, III, 6-8; IV, 12-13; a-d VI, 8-10; Cox, pp. 94-95; Davis, pp. 289-301; Eddy, No. 10a; Fuson, pp. 52-55; Mackenzie, pp. 27-34; Scarborough, pp. 143-149; Sharp, I, 161-182; and Smith, pp. 125-128. Only in the Eddy text of the American versions are there stanzas similar to the last two of the Michigan form.
[Lord Valley] The present version was sung in 1934 by Mr. Charles Muchler, Kalkaska, who learned the song when he was a young man working in a lumber camp in Pennsylvania.
1 The first came in was the scarlet red;
The next came in was the blue;
And the very next one was Lord Valley's wife,
The flower amongst the crew.
2 She cast her eyes on little Ned Grove,
To him these words did say,
"If it causes my life and it causes my death,
This night with me you must stay."
3 "To stay with you, my pretty fair one,
How darest I upon my life?
For by the rings upon your fingers
You are Lord Valley's wife."
4 "What if I am Lord Valley's wife?
The Lord is not at home,
He's gone to the north part of Scotland tonight,
And I must lie alone."
5 Little McGrew stood by their side,
These words he heard them say.
"If it cause my life and cause my death,
My master shall know what they say."
6 And little McGrew took to his heels,
Took to his heels, and he ran
Until he came to the wide waters;
He jumped in and he swam.
7 And when he reached the other side,
He wrang his clothes and he ran
Until he came to King Henry's door,
He rapped so loud that it rang.
8 And when he reached King Henry's door,
He tingled so loud at the ring
There were none so willing as Lord Valley himself
To arise and let young McGrew in.
9 "O young McGrew, what brings you here?
O what are the tidings you've brung?
Are some of my castle walls torn down,
Or some of my victories won?"
10 "There are none of your castle walls torn down,
There is none of your victories won;
But little Ned Grove is at home with your wife,
The like before never was known."
11 "Now if this be a lie you are telling to me,
Which I suppose it to be,
A scaffold I'll build in fair Scotland
And hanged you shall be."
12 "Now if this be a lie I am telling to thee,
Which you all suppose it to be,
Don't go to the trouble of building a scaffold,
But hang me upon a tree."
13 Lord Valley called his merry men round,
By one, by two, and three;
And then they set sail
This pretty young couple to see.
14 One o£ Lord Valley's bugle men
Who wished Ned Grove no ill
. . . .
He blew the bugle horn loud and shrill.
15 "Hark, hark, my pretty fair one,
Are the cocks not crowing for day?
And while I'm in bed with another man's wife
I'd better be jogging away."
16 "Lie still, lie still, my little Ned Grove,
And keep me from the cold.
'Tis only my father's shepherd lad
Herding his flocks at the fold."
17 Long and sweet they conversed that night,
And at last they both fell asleep.
And when they awoke it was broad daylight;
Lord Valley he stood at their feet.
18 "O how do you like my blankets, sir?
0 how do you like my sheets?
And how do you like my fair false wife
Who lays in your arms asleep?"
19 "Right well do I like your blankets, sir,
Right well do I like your sheets;
But better I love this fair young one
That lies in my arms asleep."
20 "Now rise, young man, arise," says he,
"Arise and put your clothes on
That it ne'er can be said in fair Scotland
I slain a naked man."
21 "To arise, Lord Valley, I dar'st not do,
I dar'st not upon my life,
For there in your belt are two glittering swords,
And I have nary a knife."
22 " 'Tis true in my belt I've two glittering swords,
They cost deep in my purse;
But you can have the very best one,
And I will keep the worst.
23 "And you may strike the very first blow,
And strike it like a man;
And I will strike the second one,
And I'll kill you if I can."
24 Little Ned Grove struck the first blow;
He wounded Lord Valley sore.
Lord Valley struck the second one
And brought little Ned dead to the floor.
25 "Now arise, young woman, arise," saith he,
"And get on your bended knees
And swear to God which you love best,
This little Ned Grove or me."
26 "Now my Lord Valley he stands at my feet,
All wounded and in his gore;
I ne'er could shed one tear for him,
For I love little Ned all the more."
27 He grasped her round her middle so sweet,
He kissed her two and three;
And in his right hand he grasped his sword
And pierced her fair body.
28 "Now I've just killed as fine a young gentleman
As e'er old Scotland could afford,
And just as fair a false young woman
As e'er the sun shone on.
29 "Now curse be on you merry men
Whom here all round me stand
To see me in such agony;
I die by my own hand."