Outlandish knight- Edwin Warren (Wilt) 1915 Williams
[From WSRO: 2598/36 Packet 4 - Wiltshire: Williams, A: MS collection No Wt 504; also Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard, 6th November, 1915, p 2, Part 7, No. 1: Williams, A: Folk songs of the upper Thames, 1923, p 159 – 161. Cover song done by Rosie Hood who sang The Outlandish Knight in 2011 on her eponymous EP Rosie Hood.
R. Matteson 2018]
Outlandish knight - sung by Edwin Warren of South Marston, Wiltshire County by 1915; Collected by Alfred Williams.
Verse 1: There was an outlandish knight,
And he came a wooing to me.
He told he'd take me to some north lands,
And there he would marry me.
Verse 2:
"Go! Fetch me some of your father's gold,
And some of your mother's fee.
And two of the best nags out of the stable,
Where they stand, thirty and three."
Verse 3
I fetched him some of my father's gold,
And some of my mother's fee.
And two of the best nags out of the stable,
Where they stood, thirty and three.
Verse 4
I mounted on my milk white steed,
And he on the dappled grey.
We rode till we came unto the seaside,
Six hours before it was day.
Verse 5
"Light off, light off thy milk white steed,
And deliver it unto me;
Six pretty maids have I drowned here,
And thou the seventh shall be."
Verse 6
"Pull off, pull off thy silken gown,
And deliver it unto me.
For it is not fitting that such gay clothing,
Should rot in the salt, salt sea."
Verse 7
Pull off, pull off thy silken stays,
And deliver them unto me.
For it is not fitting that such gay clothing,
Should rot in the salt, salt sea.'
Verse 8
"Pull off, pull of thy holland smock,
And deliver it unto me.
For it is not fitting that such gay clothing,
Should rot in the salt, salt sea."
Verse 9
"If I am to pull off my holland smock,
Pray! Turn your back towards me.
For it is not fitting that such a ruffian,
A naked woman should see."
Verse 10
He turned his back upon me there,
And viewed the leaves so green.
I caught him round the middle so small,
And tumbled him into the stream.
Verse 11
He floated high, and he floated low,
Until he came to the side -
"Catch hold of my hand, my pretty fair lady,
And I will make thee my bride!"
Verse 12
"Lie there, lie there, you false hearted man!
Lie there, instead of me.
For six pretty maidens hast thou drowned here,
But the seventh hath drowned thee."
Verse 13
I mounted on my milk white steed,
And led the dappled grey,
And rode till I came to my father's house,
Three hours before it was day.
Verse 14
The parrot was perched high up in his cage,
And hearing me enter did say -
"What ails thee, what ails thee, my pretty fair lady?
You're stirring so long before day."
Verse 15
"Don't prattle, nor prattle, my pretty parrot,
Nor tell no tales of me!
Thy cage shall be made of the glittering gold,
Although it is made of a tree."
Verse 16
My father, being up in his chamber so high
And hearing the parrot did say,
"What ails thee, what ails thee, my pretty poll parrot,
Thou'rt talking so long before day!"
Verse 17
"O master, o master," replied the old parrot,
"It's no laughing matter!" cried he,
"For the cat has just been and caught a poor mouse,
And I'm afraid he will soon have me."
Verse 18
"Well turned, well turned, my pretty poll parrot!
Well turned, well turned, for me!
Now thy cage shall be made of the glittering gold,
And the door of the best ivory."
Notes
Note 1- Williams, Alfred: 'Probably a North Country ballad, one of the traditionary songs of the Scottish borderland. It was very popular throughout the Thames Valley. Obtained of Edward Warren, South Marston.'
Note 2: In Verse 8 Line 1 the original text was:
"Pull off, pull, your silken smock,
In Verse 9 Line 1 the original text was:
"If I am to pull off my silken smock