The Old Lord by the Northern Sea- Fugate; KY 1933 ; Niles A
[Abbreviated title. From the 1961 book, The Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles, version A. This is similar to Jean Ritchie's Kentucky version- the first verse being nearly identical. The ending, "burned at the stake," is the same as Scarborough's version published in 1937.
R. Matteson 2011]
The Old Lord by the Northern Sea- Doanie Fugate; KY August, 1933, collected Niles
1. There lived an old lord by the Northern Sea
Bow down
There lived an old lord by the Northern Sea
The bows they bend to me
There lived an old lord by the Northern Sea
And he had daughters, one, two, three
I'll be true, true to my love
Love and my love will be true to me.
2. A young man came a-courting there,
Bow down
A young man came a-courting there,
The bows they bend to me
A young man came a-courting there,
His natural choice was the young and the fair,
I'll be true, true to my love
Love and my love will be true to me.
3. He gave his love a gay gold ring,
And the family thought it was sinful thing.
4. He gave his love a beaver hat,
The ugly sister thought hard of that.
5. O sister, fair, let's we walk out,
And venture to where ships go sailing about,
6. They walked by the salty brim,
And the mean one pushed the fair one in,
7. O sister dear, pray lend me your hand,
And I will thee my farming land.
8. I'll neither lend thee hand nor glove
But I will thine own true love,
9. Away she sank as the current ran,
Into the miller's *race she swam,
10. The miller said, If you give me a groat,
I'll fish you out by your petticoat.
11. He robbed her of her gay gold ring,
And then he pushed her in agin.
12. The miller was hung for what he take,
And the ugly sister was burned at the stake.
*pond (trace?)