Maid's Love- Bell Duncan (Aber) 1931 Carpenter
[From James Madison Carpenter Collection, JMC/1/10/115, Cylinder 114. This version is short and fairly complete. Bell Duncan of Lambhill, district of Ythan Wells, Aberdeenshire probably learned this from her mother, Jane Duncan of Aberdeenshire, nee Hutcheon, born 19 January 1807 . Bell's title is named after the second line which is the refrain throughout. The original full title, was the refrain, "Maid's Love Whiles is Easy Won."
R. Matteson 2018]
Maid's Love Whiles is Easy Won (The Fair Flooer o Northumberland)- sung by Bell Duncan of Lambhill, Insch about 1931.
1. The Bailie's[1] dachter's gane doon the toon,
Maid's love whiles is easy won,
To hear the prisoner makin' his moan;
He says, "I'm a free lord frae fair Scotland."
2. "Gin some fair maid wid borrow me,
Maid's love whiles is easy won,
A son or a husband I wid be,
For I'm a free lord frae fair Scotland."
3. She's deen her till her father's ha',
Maid's love whiles is easy won,
An' stowen the keys tee the prison wa',
To lat him win free tee fair Scotland.
4. She's deen her till her mither's gowd,
Maid's love whiles is easy won,
An' she's teen oot a beerly howd[2],
To carry them baith tee fair Scotland.
5. She's deen her till her father's stable,
Maid's love whiles is easy won,
An' she's teen oot a guid steed an' an able,
To carry them baith tee fair Scotland.
6. Bet they hadna ridden ower monny a moss,
Maid's love whiles is easy won,
Till he bade her loop aff o' her father's best horse,
An' she micht gae back tee Northumberland.
7. For, see nae ye yon castle?" said he
Maid's love whiles is easy won,
"There I hae a wife an' bairnies three,
An' I'm nae a free lord is fair Scotland."
8. "It's a cook in your kitchie I wid be,
Maid's love whiles is easy won,
"Bet I canna afford sic a cook as thee,
Sae gae get ye back tee Northumberland."
9. He nae bein' willin' ti dee her nae wrong,
Maid's love whiles is easy won,
He boct an ald horse, an' hired an ald man.
An' he sent her back tee Northumberland.
10. Ben cam her father, bein' sae bold,
Maid's love whiles is easy won,
Says, "Ye been a Scottish heiress, scarce sixteen years old,
How dare ye come back tee Northumberland."
11. Ben cam her mither, bein' sae mild,
Maid's love whiles is easy won,
She's nae the first that the Scots has beguiled."
Says, "Welcome back tee Northumberland."
12. "She sanna[3] want gowd, she sanna want gear[4],
Maid's love whiles is easy won,
An' gowd an' siller will get her anither,
An' she's aye the fair Flooer o' Northumberland.
____________________________
1. bailiff's
2. Also "bierly howd," my interpretation is "bridely sum." The MS has "big lump" which is not a literal translation.
3. sanna= shall not
4, gear= possessions