Recordings & Info 53. Young Beichan
CONTENTS:
1) Alternative Titles
2) Traditional Ballad Index
3) Folk Index
4) Child Collection Index
5) Excerpt from The British Traditional Ballad in North America by Tristram Coffin 1950, from the section A Critical Biographical Study of the Traditional Ballads of North America
6) Notes on Ballad Origins by A. Lang
7) Wiki
8) Mainly Norfolk (lyrics and info) Also: Turkish Lady
ATTACHED PAGES: (see left hand column)
1) Roud Number 40; Young Beichan (659 Listings)
Alternative Titles
Lord Bateman
Lord Beham
Susan Price
Lord Batesman
Lord Akeman
The Turkish Lady
Lord Brakeman
Lord Bakeman
Traditional Ballad Index: Young Beichan [Child 53]
DESCRIPTION: A young lord is taken prisoner by a foreign king. The king's daughter frees him after receiving a promise that he will wed her in seven years. Seven years later she comes to England to see him being married. When he sees her, he marries her instead
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1783/1799 (GordonBrown/Rieuwerts)
KEYWORDS: wedding marriage promise courting prison escape
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber),England) US(Ap,MW,NE,NW,SE,So) Canada(Mar,Newf)Ireland
REFERENCES (57 citations):
Child 53, "Young Beichan" (14 texts, 1 tune) {Bronson's #94}
Bronson 53, "Young Beichan" (113 versions plus 9 in addenda)
GordonBrown/Rieuwerts, pp. 106-113, "Young Bekie" (2 parallel texts plus a photo of the badly-transcribed tune plus a reconstruction on p. 267); pp. 114-118, "Young Bicham" (1 text)
Dixon I, pp. 1-10, "Young Bondwell" (1 text)
Broadwood/Maitland, pp. 62-63, "Lord Bateman" (1 text, 1 tune)
Williams-Thames, pp. 147-149, "Lord Bateman" (1 text) (also Wiltshire-WSRO Wt 362)
GlenbuchatBallads, pp. 136-140, "Young Bonwell" (1 text)
Greig #78, pp. 1-2, "Young Beichan" (2 texts)
GreigDuncan5 1023, "Lord Brechin" (13 texts, 14 tunes)
BarryEckstormSmyth pp. 106-122, "Lord Bateman" (5 texts, all very full, 2 tunes) {Bronson's #8, #87}
Randolph 11, "Lord Bateman" (4 texts plus a fragment, 3 tunes) {A=Bronson's #3, C=#44, E=#7}
Randolph/Cohen, pp. 25-28, "Lord Bateman" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 11E) {Bronson's #7}
Eddy 10, "Young Beichan" (1 text)
Gardner/Chickering 49, "Lord Bateman's Castle" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #80}
Flanders/Brown, pp. 204-208, "Lord Bakeman" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #11}
Flanders/Olney, pp. 54-57, "Lord Bakeman" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #1}
Flanders-Ancient2, pp. 9-69, "Young Beichan" (19 texts plus 6 fragments, 8 tunes; a few of the versions combine multiple collections from family members or have other complex histories) {F=Bronson's #1, H=#11}
Davis-Ballads 12, "Young Beichan" (7 texts plus 2 fragments; the fragments, especially "I," might perhaps be "The Turkish Lady"; 2 tunes entitled "Lord Bateman and the Turkish Lady, or The Turkish Lady," "The Turkish Lady"; 3 more versions mentioned in Appendix A) {Bronson's #55, #47}
Davis-More 16, pp. 102-110, "Young Beichan" (3 texts, 2 tunes)
BrownII 14, "Young Beichan" (5 texts plus mention of 1 more)
Chappell-FSRA 7, "Lord Bateman" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #35}
Hudson 8, pp. 75-76, "Young Beichan" (1 text)
Scarborough-SongCatcher, pp. 210-213, "Young Beichan" (1 text, with local title "The Jailer's Daughter"; 1 tune on pp. 410-411) {Bronson's # 39}
Creighton/Senior, pp. 26-34, "Young Beichan" (4 texts plus 1 fragment, 3 tunes) {Bronson's #64, #3, #13}
Creighton-Maritime, pp. 7-8, "Lord Bateman" (1 text, 1 tune)
Greenleaf/Mansfield 7, "Lord Ateman" (1 text)
Peacock, pp. 210-213, "Lord Bateman" (1 text, 2 tunes)
Karpeles-Newfoundland 7, "Lord Bateman" (2 texts, 3 tunes) {Bronson's #101}
Mackenzie 5, "Lord Bakeman" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #22}; "Lord Bateman" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
Lehr/Best 68, "Lord Bateman" (1 text, 2 tunes)
Leach, pp. 169-174, "Young Beichan" (2 texts)
Wyman-Brockway I, p. 58, "Lord Batesman, or the Turkish Lady" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #98}
Friedman, p. 128, "Young Beichan (Lord Bateman)" (1 text)
OBB 44, "Young Bekie"; 45, "Young Beichan"; 164, "The Loving Ballad of Lord Bateman" (3 texts)
Warner 43, "Lord Bateman" (1 text, 1 tune)
SharpAp 13 "Young Beichan" (7 texts plus 5 fragments, of which"D" and "L" in particular may be "The Turkish Lady"; 12 tunes){Bronson's #36, #99, #10, #107, #106, #110, #14, #57, #42, #41, #102, #68}
Sharp-100E 6, "Lord Bateman" (1 text, 1 tune)
Niles 22, "Young Beichan" (1 text, 1 tune)
Gummere, pp. 256-259+356-357, "Young Beichan" (1 text)
Sharp/Karpeles-80E 10, "Lord Bateman (Young Beichan)" (1 text, 1 tune, slightly edited) {Bronson's #14}
Copper-SoBreeze, pp. 276-277, "Lord Bateman" (1 text, 1 tune)
Ritchie-SingFam, pp. 100-102, "[Turkish Lady]" (1 text, 1 tune)
Ritchie-Southern, pp. 22-23, "The Turkish Lady" (1 text, 1 tune)
Hodgart, p. 41, "Young Beichan (Lord Bateman)" (1 text)
DBuchan 7, "Young Bicham"; 8, "Young Bekie" (2 texts, 1 tune in appendix) {Bronson's #112}
MacSeegTrav 8, "Young Beichan" (2 texts, 2 tunes)
TBB 2, "Young Beichan" (1 text)
HarvClass-EP1, pp. 84-86, "Young Bicham" (1 text)
Abrahams/Foss, pp. 101-103, "Lord Bateman" (1 text, 1 tune)
SHenry H470, p. 491, "Lord Beichan" (1 text, 1 tune)
LPound-ABS, 14, pp. 33-36, "Lord Bayham" (1 text)
JHCox 8, "Young Beichan" (3 text plus mention of 1 more)
JHCoxIIA, #7A-C, pp. 22-31, "A Turkish Lady," "Turkish Lady," "Lord Wetram" (3 texts, 3 tunes) {Bronson's #54, #53, #93}
Darling-NAS, pp. 67-69, "Lord Bateman" (1 text)
Silber-FSWB, p. 212, "Lord Bateman" (1 text)
DT 53, LORDBATE* LRDBEICH* (The DT editors also list TURKLADY* as Child 53, but it belongs with Laws O26)
ADDITIONAL: Leslie Shepard, _The Broadside Ballad_, Legacy Books, 1962, 1978, p. 147, "Lord Bateman" (reproduction of a broadside page containing this and "I'll Dream of Thee No More")
Roud #40
RECORDINGS:
Anita Best, "Lord Bateman" (on NFABest01)
Ollie Gilbert, "Lord Batesman" (on LomaxCD1707)
Roby Monroe Hick, "Young Beham" [excerpt] (on USWarnerColl01)
Aunt Molly Jackson, "Lord Bateman" (AFS; on LC57)
Willie Mathieson, "The King's Daughter" (on FSBBAL1)
Pleaz Mobley, "Lord Bateman" (AFS L 12, 1937; on LC12) {Bronson's #97}
Thomas Moran, "Lord Bateman" (on FSB4, FSBBAL1)
Howard Morry, "Lord Bateman" (on PeacockCDROM) [one verse only]
New Lost City Ramblers, "Lord Bateman" (on NLCR14)
John Reilly, "Lord Baker" (on Voice17)
Balis Ritchie, "Lord Bateman and the Turkish Lady" (on Ritchie03)
Jean Ritchie, "Lord Bateman" (on JRitchie01)
Jeannie Robertson, "Lord Bateman" (on FSB4, FSBBAL1)
David Slaunwhite, "Lord Bateman" (on MRHCreighton)
Mary Sullivan, "Lloyd Bateman" (AFS; on LC57)
Joseph Taylor, "Lord Bateman" (cylinder, on HiddenE) {Bronson's #34}
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 28(174), "Lord Bateman," W. Armstrong (Liverpool), 1820-1824; also 2806 c.16(213), Harding B 11(2196), Firth c.21(10), Johnson Ballads 1687, Firth c.21(28), Firth b.25(164), Harding B 11(2198), Harding B 25(1140), Johnson Ballads 549[some words illegible], Harding B 11(2199), Harding B 11(2200), Firth b.25(93), "Lord Bateman"; Harding B 17(170b), Harding B 26(379), "Lord Beigham"
LOCSinging, as100980 [incomplete], "Lord Bakeman," unknown, 19C
Murray, Mu23-y1:030, "Lord Beigham," James Lindsay Jr. (Glasgow), 19C
NLScotland, L.C.Fol.70(136a), "Lord Beigham," unknown, c. 1820
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Turkish Lady" [Laws O26]
cf. "The Araby Maid" (subject)
cf. "Mustang Gray (The Maid of Monterey)" (plot)
cf. "Thomas o Yonderdale" [Child 253] (plot)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Lord Beham
Susan Price
Lord Batesman
Lord Akeman
NOTES: This song is commonly connected with the story of Gilbert Becket, the father of Thomas (the clerical adversary of England's Henry II); for citations on this, see the story "Young Bekie" on pp. 579-580 of volume A.1 of Briggs. But, although the song's widespread currency implies that it is old, it is unlikely that it is that old.
Child believed that it may have been affected by the Becket legend, but was probably independent.
The plot very much resembles "The Turkish Lady" [Laws O26], and some scholars lump them, but the latter emphasizes the conversion of the princess rather than, as in this song, her pursuit and reunion.
It is interesting to note that, according to the Rosenberg/Kreuzer translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, p. LII, the "love interests [in the crusading romances] were frequently unintentionally humorous: the Saracen princesses in literature were almost as aggressive in their behavior as the knights they aided."
Baugh, p. 125, commenting on the romance "Bevis of Hampton": "[The Saracen Emperor] Ermin's daughter Josian, after the manner of Saracen pricesses in romance, falls in love with the hero, especially after he has successfully defended her against a king named Brademond who has come to marry her, by force if necessary."
CHEL1, p. 305, sums up "Bevis" as follows: "Beves of Hamtoun... presents almost entirely crusading tendencies, but few traces remain of the earlier form. Beves, who has been despatched as a slave to heathen parts by a treacherous mother, ultimately arrives at the court of the Saracen king Ermyn. Here he is the recipient of handsome favours, and is offered the hand of the princess Josian, on condition that he foresakes the Christian faith. This he refuses to do, but the valour he displays in staggering exploits still keeps him in favour, and Josian, for his love, is prepared to renounce her native gods [sic.]. The king hears of this, and Beves is committed to a neighbouring potentate, by whom he is kept in a horrible dungeon for some seven years. After a marvelous escape from his terrible surroundings, Beves seeks out Josian, and both flee to Cologne, where they are duly wedded. The hero's career continues to be as eventful as ever; but he is finally induced to turn toward home, where he succeeds in regaining his inheritance, and is recognised as a worthy knight by the reigning king Edgar."
Thus, in "Bevis," the girl and the guy are reunited after seven years, just as in this ballad -- although, in the romance, it is she, not he, who is married to another -- involuntarily, in this case, but she maintains her virginity magically while he spends seven years in Brademond's custody. Beves and Josian finally die in each others' arms.
A minor footnote: In the Scottish "Young Beichan" texts, the Turkish girl is typically called "Susan (Susie) Pye," with no obvious derivation that I can see. In the more numerous "Lord Bateman" texts, however, she is usually "Sophia." But "Sophia" (Greek for "wisdom") is not a Turkish name. Perhaps the girl had more reasons than love for wanting to escape. One might even speculate that she had (or that some singer intended her to have) a Christian mother. Or that she would rather marry an infidel than live in a harem.
And, yes, that's an awfully long chain of inference to hang on one name.... - RBW
Bibliography
Baugh: Albert C. Baugh, "Convention and Individuality in Middle English Romance," in Jerome Mandel and Bruce A. Rosenberg, editors, Medieval Literature and Folklore Studies, Rutgers, 1970
Briggs: Katherine Briggs, A Dictionary of British Folk-Tales in the English Language, Part A: Folk Narratives, 1970 (I use the 1971 Routledge paperback that combines volumes A.1 and A.2)
CHEL1: Sir A. W. Ward and A. R. Waller, Editors, The Cambridge History of English Literature, Volume I: From the Beginnings to the Cycles of Romance, 1907 (I use the 1967 Cambridge edition)
Rosenberg/Kreuzer: Sir Gawain and te Green Knight, translated by James L. Rosenberg with an introduction by James R. Kreuzer, 1959 (I use the 1964 Rinehart Editions paperback)
Folk Index: Lord Bateman/Batesman [Ch 53/Sh 13/Me I-A 4]
Rt - Turkish Lady
Pound, Louise (ed.) / American Ballads and Songs, Scribner, Sof (1972/1922), p 33/# 14 [1915ca/1850s] (Lord Bayham)
Friedman, Albert B. (ed.) / Viking Book of Folk Ballads of the English-S, Viking, sof (1963/1957), p128 [1800ca] (Young Behan/Beichan)
Leach, MacEdward / The Ballad Book, Harper & Row, Bk (1955), p170 (Young Behan/Beichan)
Leach, MacEdward / The Heritage Book of Ballads, Heritage, Bk (1967), p 81 (Young Behan/Beichan)
Adkins, Marvel. Cox, John Harrington (ed.) / Folk-Songs of the South, Dover, Sof (1967/1925), p 38/# 8B [1916/04/01]
Armstrong, Frankie. You Got Magic - Fox Hollow 10th Anniversary (Vol II), Biograph BLP 12052, LP (1975), trk# B.05 [1974]
Armstrong, Frankie. Out of Love, Hope and Suffering, Bay 206, LP (1973), trk# 7
Baker, Cilla (Granny Cilla). Niles, John Jacob / Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles, Bramhall House, Bk (1961), p121/N 22 [1907/07]
Banks, Granny. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p 77/# 13A [1916/07/28] (Young Behan/Beichan)
Blackard, Joe (Blackett, Joe). Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p 87/# 13K [1918/08/28]
Briggs, William (Bill). Edwards, Jay; and Robert Kelley / Coffee House Songbook, Oak, Sof (1966), p 54
Broadside Electric. More Bad News, Clever Sheep CS-1704C, Cas (1996), trk# A.02a
Burwell, Luther. Cox, John Harrington (ed.) / Folk-Songs of the South, Dover, Sof (1967/1925), p 36/# 8A [1915/12/26]
Creech, Mrs. Berry. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p 88/# 13L [1917/08/31] (Young Behan/Beichan)
Evans, Lenore. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume I, British Ballads and Songs, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p 81/# 11A [1927/09/05]
Gainer, Patrick. Folk Songs of the Alleghenies, Folk Heritage, LP (1963), trk# A.02
Gentry, Jane Hicks. Smith, Betty N. / Jane Hicks Gentry. A Singer Among Singers, U. Ky, Sof (1998), p143/# 5 [1916/08/24]
Gilbert, Ollie. Southern Journey. Vol. 7: Ozark Frontier, Rounder 1707, CD (1997), trk# 16 [1959/10]
Goodhue, F. M.. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume I, British Ballads and Songs, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p 83/# 11B [1930/11/16]
Harold and Abe. Sweet Sunny South, Heritage (Galax) 043, LP (1984), trk# 12 (Susan Pines)
Hembree, Wiley. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume I, British Ballads and Songs, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p 86/# 11E [1941/12/12]
Hewitt, Emma. Cox, John Harrington(ed.) / Traditional Ballads Mainly from West Virgini, WPA, Bk (1939), 7C [1924ca] (Lord Wetram)
Hicks, Buna. Traditional Music of Beech Mountain, NC, Vol I, Folk Legacy FSA 022, LP (1964), trk# 13 [1961-63] (Young Behan/Beichan)
Hindman School Children. Cox, John Harrington(ed.) / Traditional Ballads Mainly from West Virgini, WPA, Bk (1939), 7A [1923ca] (Turkish Lady)
Holt, Mrs.. Kidson, Frank (ed.) / Traditional Tunes. A Collection of Ballad Airs, S.R. Publishers, Bk (1970/1891), p 33 [1880s]
Jones, Cis. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p 87/# 13I [1917/04/16] (Young Behan/Beichan)
Jones, Cis. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p 87/# 13J [1917/09/08]
Kennison, Josiah S.. Flanders, Helen H. & George Brown / Vermont Folk Songs and Ballads, Folklore Associates, Bk (1968/1931), p204 [1930/08/23] (Lord Bakeman/Baker)
Lloyd, A. L. (Bert). English and Scottish Popular Ballads (The Child Ballads) Vol. 4, Washington WLP 718, LP (196?), trk# A.04
Masters, Mildred. Morris, Alton C. / Folksongs of Florida, Univ. Florida, Bk (1950), p259/#155 [1934-39] (Lord Bakeman/Baker)
McKeown, Susan. Lowlands, Green Linnet GLCD 1205, CD (2000), trk# 7 (Lord Bakeman/Baker)
Milner, Dan. Irish Ballads and Songs of the Sea, Folk Legacy CD 124, CD (1998), trk# 12
Mobley, Pleaz. Anglo-American Songs and Ballads, Library of Congress AFS L12, LP (1953), trk# A.01 [1943]
Moran, Thomas. Folk Songs of Britain, Vol 4. The Child Ballads, I, Caedmon TC 1145, LP (1961), trk# B.03a [1950s]
Morris, Polly. Scarborough, Dorothy(ed.) / A Song Catcher in the Southern Mountains, AMS, Bk (1966/1937), p212,410 [1930] (Jailor's Daughter)
New Golden Ring. Five Days Singing - Vol. I, Folk Legacy FSI 041, LP (1971), trk# 8
New Lost City Ramblers. Remembrance of Things to Come, Folkways FTS 31035, LP (1973/1966), trk# 4
O'Bryant, Joan. Folksongs and Ballads of Kansas, Folkways FA 2134, LP (1957), trk# A.06
O'Connor, Sinead. Sean-Nos Nua, R and M RAMCD 001, CD (2002), trk# 12 (Lord Bakeman/Baker)
Old Reliable String Band. Old Reliable String Band, Folkways FA 2475, LP (1963), trk# B.05
Perriman, Jewell. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume I, British Ballads and Songs, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p 85/# 11C [1941/02/28]
Pitt, Everett. Up Agin the Mountain, Marimac 9200, Cas (1987/1944), trk# 8 [1946/01/06] (Lord Beekman)
Ray, May. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p 81/# 13F [1917/04/25] (Young Behan/Beichan)
Rice, Mrs. Tom. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p 81/# 13D [1916/08/17] (Young Behan/Beichan)
Rice, Mrs. Zippo. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p 80/# 13C [1916/08/15] (Young Behan/Beichan)
Ritchie, Jean. British Traditional Ballads in the Southern Mountains (Vol. 1), Folkways FA 2301, LP (1961), trk# 4
Ritchie, Jean. Ritchie, Jean / Singing Family of the Cumberlands, Oak, sof (1955), p100
Ritchie, Jean. Ritchie Family of Kentucky, Folkways FA 2316, LP (1959), trk# B.01 (Lord Bateman and the Turkish Lady)
Robertson, Jeannie. Folk Songs of Britain, Vol 4. The Child Ballads, I, Caedmon TC 1145, LP (1961), trk# B.03b [1950s]
Sands, Mary. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p 81/# 13E [1916/07/31] (Young Behan/Beichan)
Short, Lillian. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume I, British Ballads and Songs, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p 85/# 11D [1941/06/12]
Slaunwhite, David. Maritime Folk Songs, Folkways FE 4307, LP (1956), trk# B.09 [1950/09] (Young Behan/Beichan)
Smith, F. E.. Cox, John Harrington (ed.) / Folk-Songs of the South, Dover, Sof (1967/1925), p 40/# 8C [1917/01]
Smith, Nanny; and Polly Patrick. Sharp, Cecil & Maude Karpeles (eds.) / Eighty English Folk Songs from th, MIT Press, Sof (1968), p 30 [1917ca] (Young Behan/Beichan)
Smith, Nanny; and Polly Patrick. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p 83/# 13G [1917/08/16] (Young Behan/Beicha
Sturgill, Virgil [L.]. Abrahams, Roger; & George Foss / Anglo-American Folksong Style, Prentice-Hall, Sof (1968), 6-4 [1958]
Sutherland, Catherine E.. Cox, John Harrington(ed.) / Traditional Ballads Mainly from West Virgini, WPA, Bk (1939), 7B [1925/12/20] (Turkish Lady)
Tabor, June. June Tabor, The Peel Sessions, Strange Fruit SFPS 015, LP (1986/1977), trk# 1
Taylor, Joseph. Hidden English. A Celebration of English Traditional Music, Topic TSCD 600, CD (200?), trk# 25 [1908]
Thompson, Eric and Suzy. Dream Shadows, Herringbone Disc ET 102, CD (Her5), trk# 7 (Lloyd Bateman)
Townsend, O. S.. Moore, Ethel & Chauncey (ed.) / Ballads and Folk Songs of the Southwest, Univ. of Okla, Bk (1964), p 41/# 15 [1940s]
Unidentified Kentucky Singer(s). Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p 79/# 13B [1907] (Young Behan/Beichan)
Weill, Rita. Rita Weill Sings Ballads and Folksongs, Takoma A 1022, LP (1968), trk# 7
Williams, Mrs. Solomon. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, I, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p 86/# 13H [1917/04/18] (Young Behan/Beichan)
Workman, Nimrod. Mother Jones' Will, Rounder 0076, LP (1978), trk# 1
Lord Bayham [Ch 53/Me I-A 4]
Us - Lord Bateman/Batesman
Lord Beekman [Ch 53/Me I-A 4]
Us - Lord Bateman/Batesman
Turkish Lady [Laws O26]
Rt - Lord Bateman/Batesman
At - Turkish Rover
Laws, G. Malcolm / American Balladry from British Broadsides, Amer. Folklore Soc., Bk (1957), p238
Henneberry, Ben. Creighton, Helen / Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia, Dover, sof (1996/1933), p 26/# 13 [1927-32] (Turkish Rover)
Pettit, Katherine. Leach, MacEdward / The Ballad Book, Harper & Row, Bk (1955), p173 [1904ca]
Child Ballad Collection 053: Young Beichan
--Child No.-- Artist-- Title --Album --Year --Length-- Have
053 A.L. Lloyd Lord Bateman The Shooting of His Dear + Lord Bateman 195? No
053 A.L. Lloyd Lord Bateman (Young Beichan) The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (The Child Ballads) - Vol. 2 1956 6:06 Yes
053 A.L. Lloyd Lord Bateman (Young Beichan) The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (The Child Ballads) - Vol. 4 [Reissue] 196? No
053 A.L. Lloyd Lord Bateman Ten Thousand Miles Away - English and Australian Folk Songs 2008 No
053 A.L. Lloyd Lord Bateman An Evening with A.L. Lloyd 2010 No
053 A.L. Lloyd Lord Bateman Bramble Briars & Beams of the Sun 2011 No
053 Abe Horton & Harold Hausenfleck Susan Pines Sweet Sunny South 1984 5:33 Yes
053 Alex Brown Lord Beichan (1) The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
053 Alex Brown Lord Beichan (2) The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
053 Alex Campbell Young Beichan The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
053 Alex Robb Lord Brichen The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
053 Alexander Clark Lord Beichan The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
053 Alice Penfold Lord Bateman Here's Luck to a Man .. - An Anthology of Gypsy Songs & Music from South-East England 2003
No
053 All in the Merry Month of May Lord Bateman and the Turkish Lady Root Bramble Stone 2011 No
053 Alonzo Lewis Lord Bateman The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
053 Anita Best Lord Bateman Crosshanded 1997 7:52 Yes
053 Arthur Knevett Lord Bateman Ballads 1997 4:23 Yes
053 Asa Davis Lord Bakeman (1) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
053 Asa Davis Lord Bakeman (2) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
053 Asa Davis Lord Bakeman (3) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
053 Asa Davis Lord Bateman Burly Banks of Barbry O: Eight Traditional British-American Ballads 1953 No
053 Aunt Molly Jackson Lord Bateman The Library of Congress No
053 Aunt Molly Jackson Lord Bateman Child Ballads Traditional in the United States, Vol. I 1960 6:16 Yes
053 Aunt Molly Jackson Lord Bateman (1) The Mary Elizabeth Barnicle-Tillman Cadle Collection No
053 Aunt Molly Jackson Lord Bateman (2) The Mary Elizabeth Barnicle-Tillman Cadle Collection No
053 Bell Duncan Young Beichan (Barnwell) The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
053 Belle Luther Richards Lord Bateman The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
053 Ben Baxter Lord Bateman BBC Recordings No
053 Ben Baxter Lord Bateman As I Walked Out - Songs from Norfolk 1976 No
053 Bob Stewart Young Belchan Up Like the Swallow 1978 4:22 Yes
053 Broadside Electric Lord Bateman More Bad News.. 1997 5:41 Yes
053 Buna Hicks Young Beichan The Traditional Music of Beech Mountain, North Carolina, Vol. I 1964 No
053 Campbell MacLean + Bella Higgins Young Beicham (Lord Bateman) Scottish Tradition 5: The Muckle Sangs - Classic Scottish Ballads 1992 3:21 Yes
053 Chapel Wallin Lord Bateman Live in Tateville, KY, USA, 1982 1982 6:13 Yes
053 Charlotte Higgins Lord Bateman The Carry-On in the Berryfields - The Travellers Campfire 2 1979 No
053 Charlotte Higgins Susie Pirate (Lord Bateman) Scottish Tradition 24: Songs and Ballads from Perthshire 2011 No
053 Chris Bartram Lord Bateman Yorkie - Traditional Songs from England 2005 No
053 Chris Foster Lord Bateman Outsiders 2008 No
053 Chris Wood Lord Bateman The Lark Descending 2005 7:59 Yes
053 Chris Wood Lord Bateman fRoots 25 2005 7:48 Yes
053 Craig, Morgan, Robson Lord Bateman Hummingbird’s Feather 2009 No
053 Custer LaRue Lord Bateman The True Lover's Farewell - Appalachian Folk Ballads 1995 8:12 Yes
053 Dan Dutton Lord Bateman Rose & Briar 2004 12:06 Yes
053 Dan Milner Lord Bateman Irish Ballads & Songs of the Sea 1998 6:24 Yes
053 Daniel Bouwman & Andrew Guy Lord Becket White Swans Black Ravens 2006 5:37 Yes
053 Danny Brazil Lord Bakeman The Brazil Family - Down By the Old Riverside 2007 No
053 David Edwards Lord Brichen The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
053 David Slauenwhite Young Beichan (Lord Bateman) Maritime Folk Songs from the Collection of Helen Creighton 1962 No
053 David Slaunwhite Lord Bateman The Helen Creighton Collection No
053 Dennis Smith Lord Bateman (1) The Helen Creighton Collection No
053 Dennis Smith Lord Bateman (2) The Helen Creighton Collection No
053 Denny Smith Lord Bateman Band of Gold 2000 No
053 Denny Smith Lord Bateman A Catalogue Sampler 2005 No
053 Dick Miles & Friends Lord Bateman Around the Harbour Town and Other Songs of Shore and Home 2004 No
053 E.H. Napier Lord Batesman The Library of Congress No
053 Ed Rennie Lord Bateman Narrative 2005 No
053 Edward Little Lord Bateman The Helen Creighton Collection No
053 Elizabeth Robb Lord Brichen (1) The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
053 Elizabeth Robb Lord Brichen (2) The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
053 Ellen Bray Lord Bateman (1) Steve Gardham Collection 1970-1982 3:22 Yes
053 Ellen Bray Lord Bateman (2) Steve Gardham Collection 1970-1982 3:25 Yes
053 Ellen Bray Lord Bateman (3) Steve Gardham Collection 1970-1982 6:00 Yes
053 Eric & Suzy Thompson Lloyd Bateman Dream Shadows 2008 No
053 Ethel Grinsdale Lord Bateman Steve Gardham Collection 1970-1982 :23 Yes
053 Eunice Yeatts McAlexander Lord Bateman Crazy About a Song - Old-Time Ballad Singers and Musicians from Virginia and North Carolina 1992 No
053 Eunice Yeatts McAlexander Lord Bateman Far in the Mountains, Vol. 1 & 2 - Songs, Tunes and Stories from Mike Yates' Appalachian Collections 1979-1983 2002 5:06 Yes
053 Everett Pitt Lord Beekman Up Agin the Mountain - Traditional Ballads and Songs from the Eastern Ramapos 1987 No
053 Ewan MacColl Young Beichan The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (Child Ballads) - Vol. 2 1964 8:47 Yes
053 Ewan MacColl Young Beichan [Scots] The Long Harvest, Vol. 8 - Some Traditional Ballads in Their English, Scots and North American Variants 1968 8:14 Yes
053 Finley Adams Lord Bateman The Library of Congress No
053 Frank Bond Lord Bateman BBC Recordings No
053 Frankie Armstrong Lord Bateman .. Out of Love, Hope and Suffering 1974 4:13 Yes
053 Frankie Armstrong Lord Bateman You Got Magic - Fox Hollow 10th Anniversary, Vol. II 1976 4:13 Yes
053 Fred Ballard Lord Bateman The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
053 George Farnham Lord Bacon The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
053 George Vinton Graham Lord Bakeman California Gold - Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collected By Sidney Robertson Cowell 193? 6:18 Yes
053 Gordon Hall Lord Beckett The Gwilym Davies Collection No
053 Gordon Hall Lord Beckett (Lord Bateman) John Howson Collection 1970-1995 No
053 Gordon Tyrrall Lord Bateman So I've Heard 2000 2:29 Yes
053 Hank Lord Bateman <website> 2009 6:02 Yes
053 Harold & Abe Susan Pines Sweet Sunny South 197? No
053 Harry Cox The Turkish Lady What Will Become of England? 2000 1:50 Yes
053 Harry Cox Lord Bateman (The Turkish Lady) The Bonny Labouring Boy 2000 4:59 Yes
053 Ian Manuel Young Beichan The Dales of Caledonia 1976 No
053 Isabel Sutherland Lord Bateman Vagrant Songs of Scotland 1966 5:37 Yes
053 J.C. Kennison Lord Bakesman The Library of Congress No
053 J.E. Mainer & Morris Herbert Turkish Lady The Legendary J.E. Mainer - Vol. 15 - with Morris Herbert 1971 2:52 Yes
053 James Findlay Lord Bateman As I Carelessly Did Stray 2009 No
053 James Mason Lord Beichan The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
053 Jean Jenkins Lord Bateman The Wife of Usher's Well - Mountain Ballads 1976 No
053 Jean Ritchie Lord Bateman Ballads from Her Appalachian Family Tradition 2003 6:05 Yes
053 Jean Ritchie Lord Bateman British Traditional Ballads in the Southern Mountains - Child Ballads, Vol 1 1961 6:06 Yes
053 Jean Ritchie Lord Bateman and the Turkish Lady The Ritchie Family of Kentucky 1958 7:06 Yes
053 Jean Ritchie The Turkish Lady Songs from Kentucky (1) 1953 No
053 Jean Stewart Susie Pirate The Ball O'Killiecranky - The Travellers Campfire 3 1979 No
053 Jeannie Robertson Susan Pyatt What a Voice 1975 No
053 Jim & Lynette Eldon Lord Bateman Jim & Lynette Eldon 1997 4:48 Yes
053 Jim Couch Lord Batesman The Leonard Robers Collection - Sang Branch Settlers - Folksongs and Tails of a Kentucky Mountain Family 1952-1954 2:34 Yes
053 Jim Moray Lord Bateman Sweet England 2003 5:21 Yes
053 Jim Moray Lord Bateman Blues, Roots & Beyond 2004 5:20 Yes
053 Jim Moray Lord Bateman A Beginner’s Guide 2010 No
053 Jimmy Devlin Lord Beichan Songs from the Sperrins - Traditional Singing from Mid & North Tyrone 2009 No
053 Joan O'Bryant Lord Batesman Folksongs and Ballads of Kansas 1957 4:40 Yes
053 John Cow Lord Bateman The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
053 John Jacob Niles Lord Bateman and the Turkish Lady 50th Anniversary Album 1956 No
053 John Kirkpatrick Lord Bateman Make No Bones 2007 No
053 John Reilly Lord Baker Folk Music and Dances of Ireland - An Anthology of Songs and Dance Tunes By Breandan Breathnach - Accompanying CD 1989 No
053 John Reilly Lord Baker The Voice of the People, Vol. 17: It Fell on a Day, a Bonny Summer Day - Ballads 1998 7:28 Yes
053 John Reilly Lord Baker The Bonny Green Tree - Songs of an Irish Traveller 1977 No
053 John Roberts & Tony Barrand Lord Bateman Heartoutbursts - English Folksongs Collected By Percy Grainger 1998 6:21 Yes 053 John T. Alexander Lord Bateman Ben Gray Lumpkin Digital Folk Music Collection 1950-1970 3:27 Yes
053 Johnny Mowat Lord Brichen The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
053 Jon Boden Lord Bateman A Folk Song a Day - April 2011 3:08 Yes
053 Joseph Taylor Lord Bateman Unto Brigg Fair - Grainger, Delius & the Lincolnshire Singers 1979 No
053 Joseph Taylor Lord Bateman Unto Brigg Fair - Joseph Taylor and Other Traditional Lincolnshire Singers 1972 1:58 Yes
053 Joseph Taylor Lord Bateman Hidden English - A Celebration of English Traditional Music 1996 2:07 Yes
053 Josiah Kennison Lord Bakeman (1) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
053 Josiah Kennison Lord Bakeman (2) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
053 June Tabor Lord Bateman The Peel Sessions 1986 4:22 Yes
053 June Tabor Lord Bateman On Air 1998 4:17 Yes
053 Lena Bourne Fish Lord Bateman Whiskey in the Jar 1987 No
053 Lena Bourne Fish Lord Bateman (1) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
053 Lena Bourne Fish Lord Bateman (2) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
053 Lilla Bracey Lord Bateman The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
053 Louis Boutilier Lord Bateman (1) The Helen Creighton Collection No
053 Louis Boutilier Lord Bateman (2) The Helen Creighton Collection No
053 M. Curran Lord Bateman MacEdward Leach and the Songs of Atlantic Canada 1951 No
053 Marion Stoggill Young Beichan The Library of Congress No
053 Mary Sullivan Lloyd Bateman Child Ballads Traditional in the United States, Vol. I 1960 7:20 Yes
053 Mr. Thomson Lord Bateman Unto Brigg Fair - Grainger, Delius & the Lincolnshire Singers 1979 No
053 Mr. Thomson Lord Bateman Unto Brigg Fair - Joseph Taylor and Other Traditional Lincolnshire Singers 1972 2:32 Yes
053 Mrs. Arlington Fraser Lord Bateman The Edith Fowke Collection No
053 Mrs. Emma Burke Lord Baton The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
053 Mrs. Emma Dusenberry Lord Banyan (1) The Library of Congress No
053 Mrs. Emma Dusenberry Lord Banyan (2) The Library of Congress No
053 Mrs. G.A. Griffin Lord Bateman The Library of Congress No
053 Mrs. Herbert Bailey Lord Bakeman The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
053 Mrs. Lize Pace Lord Bateman The Library of Congress No
053 Mrs. Mary Sullivan Lloyd Bateman Voices from the Dust Bowl 1940-1941 7:48 Yes
053 Mrs. Mary Young Lord Batesman The Library of Congress No
053 Mrs. Maude Covill Lord Bateman The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
053 Mrs. Michael Mulcahy Lord Batesman (1) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
053 Mrs. Michael Mulcahy Lord Batesman (2) The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
053 Mrs. Minnie Floyd Lord Bateman (Part 1) Southern Mosaic - The John & Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip 1939 3:17 Yes
053 Mrs. Minnie Floyd Lord Bateman (Part 2) Southern Mosaic - The John & Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip 1939 1:24 Yes
053 Mrs. Ollie Gilbert Lord Batesman The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection - Ozark Folksongs 3:23 Yes
053 Mrs. W.B. Morton Lord Bateman The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
053 Mrs. W.E. Pierce Lord Bateman The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
053 Munroe Gevedon Lord Batesman The Library of Congress No
053 Nathan Hall Lord Bateman The Helen Creighton Collection No
053 Nic Jones Lord Bateman Nic Jones 1971 6:54 Yes
053 Nimrod Workman Lord Bateman Mother Jones' Will 1978 No
053 Ollie Gilbert Lord Batesman Southern Journey Vol. 7: Ozark Frontier 1997 3:20 Yes
053 Ollie Gilbert Lord Batesman The Max Hunter Folk Song Collection 3:20 Yes
053 Orlon Merrill Lord Bateman The Helen Hartness Flanders Collection No
053 P. Cruickshank Lord Brichan The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
053 Pamela Morgan Lord Bateman Ancestral Songs 2006 8:02 Yes
053 Patrick Gainer Lord Bateman Folk Songs of the Alleghenies 1963 No
053 Paul Clayton Lord Bateman Cumberland Mountain Folksongs 1957 2:57 Yes
053 Peggy Seeger Lord Bateman [American] The Long Harvest, Vol. 8 - Some Traditional Ballads in Their English, Scots and North American Variants 1968 4:38 Yes
053 Peggy Seeger The Turkish Rover [American] The Long Harvest, Vol. 8 - Some Traditional Ballads in Their English, Scots and North American Variants 1968 3:59 Yes
053 Peter Bellamy The Turkish Lady The Fox Jumps Over the Parson's Gate 1970 3:36 Yes
053 Peter Bellamy The Turkish Lady Fair England's Shore - English Traditional Songs 2008 3:47 Yes
053 Planxty Lord Baker Words and Music 1983 9:06 Yes
053 Pleaz Mobley Lord Bateman Folk Music of the United States - Anglo-American Songs and Ballads (1) 1953 No
053 Pól Mac Adaim Lord Baker Internationale 2004 7:58 Yes
053 Ragged Heroes The Loving Ballad of Lord Bateman Annual 1983 5:27 Yes
053 Raymond Crooke Lord Bateman <website> 2007 11:52 Yes
053 Raymond Noseworthy Lord Bateman MacEdward Leach and the Songs of Atlantic Canada 1951 No
053 Reuben Smith Lord Bateman The Helen Creighton Collection No
053 Rita Weill Lord Bateman Rita Weill Sings Ballads and Folksongs 1968 5:50 Yes
053 Roby Monroe Hicks Young Beham The Warner Collection, Vol. 1 - Her Bright Smile Haunts Me Still 2000 2:09 Yes
053 Ruby Plemmons Lord Bateman The Ferrum College Collection 1976-1977 6:07 Yes
053 Sam Bennett Lord Bateman The James Madison Carpenter Collection 1927-1955 No
053 Sandy Denny Lord Bateman Studio Outtakes, Home Demos, Unheard Songs, Complete Studio Recordings 2010 6:13 Yes
053 Sandy & Caroline Paton Lord Bateman Hush Little Baby 1960 No
053 Shep Ginandes Lord Bateman British Traditional Ballads in America Vol 1 1953 No
053 Sinéad O'Connor Lord Baker Sean-Nós Nua 2002 11:42 Yes
053 Steve Ashley Lord Bateman Stroll on Revisited 1999 8:45 Yes
053 Susan McKeown Lord Baker Lowlands 2000 8:47 Yes
053 The Askew Sisters Lord Bateman Through Lonesome Woods 2010 7:27 Yes
053 The Love Hall Tryst Lord Bateman Songs of Misfortune 2005 6:13 Yes
053 The Minstrel in the Galleries Lord Bateman (electric) Songs of Misfortune 2005 7:21 Yes
053 The New Golden Ring Lord Bateman Five Days Singing - Vol. 1 1971 6:27 Yes
053 The New Lost City Ramblers Lord Bateman Remembrance of Things to Come 1966 5:24 Yes
053 The New Scorpion Band Lord Bateman The Downfall of Pears 2004 13:06 Yes
053 The Old Reliable String Band Lord Bateman The Old Reliable String Band - Old-Timey Folk Music 1963 5:47 Yes
053 The Willett Family Lord Bateman The Roving Journeyman 1963 No
053 Thomas Moran Lord Bateman BBC Recordings No
053 Thomas Moran Lord Beichan The Elfin Knight - The Classic Ballads 1 1976 No
053 Thomas Moran + Jeannie Robertson Lord Bateman Classic Ballads of Britain & Ireland - Folk Songs of England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales, Vol 1 2000 2:12 Yes
053 Thomas Moran + Jeannie Robertson Lord Bateman (Young Beichan) The Folk Songs of Britain, Vol 4: The Child Ballads 1 1961 2:06 Yes
053 Tim Radford Lord Bateman + May a Tree George Blake's Legacy - Songs, Tunes and Recitations of a Hampshire Gardener 2009 No
053 Wiggy Smith Lord Bateman Band of Gold 2000 No
053 Wiggy Smith Lord Bateman (1) The Gwilym Davies Collection No
053 Wiggy Smith Lord Bateman (2) The Gwilym Davies Collection No
053 Wiggy Smith Lord Bateman (3) The Gwilym Davies Collection No
053 Wood, Wilson, Carthy Lord Bateman Wood, Wilson, Carthy 1998 6:46 Yes
Excerpt from The British Traditional Ballad in North America
by Tristram Coffin 1950, from the section A Critical Biographical Study of the Traditional Ballads of North America
53. YOUNG BEICHAN
Note: For further references to the large number of printed texts in the tradition of Young Beichan and its derivative The Turkish Lady consult JAFL, XXX, 2967.
Texts: Barry, Brit Bids Me, 106 / Berea Quarterly, XVIII, 12, / Brown Coll / Butt Tenn FLS, VIII, #3, 68 / Bull V SC# 162, #3 / ChappeU, F-S Rnke Alb, 18 / Cox, F-S South, 36 / Cox, Trd Bid W Fa, 16 / Cox, W. Fa. School Journal and Educator, XLVI, 20 / Davis, Trd Bid Va, 158 / Duncan, No Hamilton Cnty, 38 / Eddy, Bids Sgs Ohio, 28 / Edward Eggleston, Transit of Civilization, 137 / Flanders, Ft F-S Bids, 204 / Gardner and Chickering, Bids Sgs So Mich, 143 / Garrison, Searcy Cnty, 16 / Greenleaf and Mansfield, Bids Sea Sgs Newjdldy 17 / Harper's Mgz (May, 1915), 903 / Henry, F-S So Hgblds, 58 / Hudson, F-S Miss, 75 /
Hudson, Spec Miss F-L, #8 / Hummel Oz F-S / JAFL, XVHI, 209; XX, 251 ; XXII, 64; XXVI, 3535 XXVIII, 1495 XXX, 294; XLI, 585; XLII, 259 / Kincaid, Fav Mt Bids, 26 / MacKenzie, Bids Sea Sgs N Sc, 16 / MacKenzie, Quest Bid, 115 / Minish Mss. / Morris, F-S Fla, 292 / Pound, Am Bids Sgs, 33 / Pound, Nebr Syllabus, 9 / Musick, F-L Kirksville, 2 / Raine, Land Sddle Bags, 109 / Randolph, Oz F-S, I, 80 / Randolph, OzMtFlk, I\ Elizabeth M. Roberts, The Great Meadow (N.Y., 1930), 645 / Scarborough, Sgctchr So Mts, 210 / Scott, Sing of Am, 40 / Sewanee Review, XIX, 316 / SharpC, Eng F-S So Aplchns, # 12 /
SharpK, Eng F-S So Aplcbns, I, 81 / Shearin and Combs, Ky Syllabus, jj SFLQ, VIII, 144 / Reed Smith, SC Bids, 104 / Thomas, Devil's Ditties, 86 / Va FLS Bull, #3 2, 3, 59, 12 / Wheeler, STy Mt F-S, 89 / Wyman and Brockway, Lnsme Tunes, 58.
Local Titles: A Gentlemen of the Court of England, Lord Ateman, Lord Bateman (Bakeman, Baitsman, Batesman, Behan, etc.), Lord Bateman and the Turkish Lady, Lord Bateman's Castle, Lord Wetram, The Jailer's Daughter, The Noble Lord, The Turkish Lady, Young Behan.
Story Types: A: Lord Bateman, an English nobleman, is captured by the Turks while on a sea voyage. Put in prison, he wins the heart of a Turkish maid who sees him there. She frees him, after a mutual pact that neither will marry for seven years is agreed upon. At the end of that time, having no word from her lover, she sets out to find him. In England, Lord Bateman
has just brought home a bride, but when he learns that his true-love has appeared on the scene he sends the bride home again (none the worse for him) and plans a marriage with the Turkish girl.
Examples: Barry (A); Davis (A); Randolph, OzF-S (A).
B : The story is basically the same as that of Type A. However, the girl's father builds her a ship to sail after her lover, Lord Bateman attempts to marry the Turkish girl to his elder and younger brothers when she appears in England, and she continually reminds the Lord of a 90,000 forfeit he must pay if he doesn't marry her.
Examples: Henry (A).
Discussion: Most American versions of this song compare closely with Child L as to length, detail, and story outline. Some of the minor points vary: for example, the mention of the hole bored in the hero's shoulder (see Child H, etc.), the lady's desire for the Lord's body rather than material reward, and a home such as India, etc. for the hero. The miraculous voyage
(Child C, etc.) has been excluded in America, as is generally the case with such matter, and no traces of the supernatural Billy Blin remain.
Kittredge (J4FL, XXX, 295) used "the hole bored in the hero's shoulder" as a means of distinguishing the texts akin to Child L from those of the Coverly broadside (Isaiah Thomas Collection, Worcester, Mass,) group. It is possible the Indian home of Beichan comes from this broadside, although Barry (Brit Bids Me, 109) is doubtful. It is also noteworthy that the great majority of the New World texts use a variation of the English Bateman name, rather than the Scottish Beichan.
The name of the hero is subject to a great number of spellings in America: Bacon, Ateman, and Beechman being particularly unusual. The girl, as in Child, always has a singularly un-Turkish name such as Suzanne, Sophia, Honey, Silky, Friar, Susie Free, Susie Pines, Susanna Spicer, etc.
SharpK, Eng F-S So Aplcbns (F) prints an interesting American ending that relates how the Turkish girl "was put on the house enrolment, Lord Beechman's landlady", which seems unbelievable in view of the fact that one stanza before he has returned the bride to her mother. The Wyman and Brockway (Lnsme Tunes, 58 and JAFL XXII, 64) Kentucky texts do not include the return of the bride, but in them the Lord swears hell give up all his lands and dwellings for his Turkish love. See also Scott, Sing of Am, 40. The Henry {JAFL, XLII, 259) text finds Behan (note the Scottish name) living in Glasgow and the jilted bride a brown girl. In the Cox, Trd Bids W VCL, Lord Wetram version the length of time is four rather than seven years and the bride's father and not her mother takes the daughter home.
The story has been subject to confusion and corruption in America. Thomas (Devil's Ditties^ 86) prints a text that is obscured as to narrative through the misplacement of a stanza. In addition, there is a large group of derivative songs that go under the name of The Turkish Lady in this country. Creighton, Sgs Bids N Sc 9 26 and MacKenzie, Bids Sea. Sgs N Sc, 66 and
Quest Bld y 130 publish examples, while Barry reprints a Forget-me-not Songster (Nafis and Cornish, N. Y., c. 1845) 169 text in JAFL, XXIII, 450. Other illustrative examples of the derivatives of this song can be seen in the Forget-me-not Songster (Turner and Fisher, Philadelphia and N. Y.), 248; Marsh's Book of a Thousand Songs for the Million,- 171 ; The Old Forget-me-not Songster (Locke & Dubin, Boston), 171 ; and the Washington Songster (Turner and Fisher, Philadelphia andN. Y.), 13 1. The JAFLTtet (XXX, 296 ff.) cited in the note includes the "Lord Bateman" broadsides in the Harvard University Library and some Turkish Lady references. The song also appears in children's book form. See Me Loughlin, N. Y., c. 1877.
Child (I, 455 ff.) discusses the affinities of this song and the Hind Horn romance and the Gilbert a Becket legend. For remarks on the seven-year pact and the traditional common law on presumption of death see Wheeler, Ky Mt F-S, 89, headnote. The version printed here is one of the more complete of the American texts. Zielonko, Some American Variants of Child
Ballads, 83 ff. treats the whole American tradition through an extensive study of selected texts.
Notes on Ballad Origins
by A. Lang
Folklore, Vol. 14, No. 2 (Jun. 24, 1903), pp. 147-161
Take the case of "The Loving Ballad of Lord Bateman;" in its street guise, even, it contains many traditional stanzas. Professor Child remarks that the story has a close analogue in Robert of Gloucester's Life of St. Thomas of Canterbury. Herein the hero is Becket's father, answering to the Young Beichan or Bekie of some Scottish variants. "Becket" may have suggested "Beichan," our Scots ballad may have the Life of Becket for one literary source. But, says Professor Child, "the ballad, for all that, is not derived from the legend..... The legend lacks some of the main points of the stories ' (Marchen)," and the ballad, in one version or another, has them."
Here, as usual, I agree with Professor Child. What is the donnee of this ballad? A lover has left his lady (who has usually helped him out of her father's prison, or enabled him to escape from the wrath of her father, a giant, ogre, elephant, French king, Turk, Moor, or what not) in a far country. He reaches his home, and (by dint of magic or other constraint) forgets his love. She comes to him, revives his memory, and weds him, though he has just taken a new bride, whose wedding-feast she generally
interrupts. Every folklorist knows many versions of this far-travelled tale, found in Samoa as in the Jason cycle, where the conclusion is tragical. Often the forgetfulness of the hero is absent.
Mr. Henderson replies (1.) : "For anything that Mr. Lang actually shows, there is nothing remarkable in different countries having this story about the return of an old true love, since the return of old true loves is quite common."
Agreed! But that their ladies had released the men from their father's prison; that the men took other brides under magical constraint, and that the old true loves returned during the bridal, and wedded their first flames, cannot be a very usual- sequence of events. Even if it were common, what then? The ballads and stories would all the more need no source in literary romance, as on Mr. Henderson's theory; if I understand it.
(2) " If the similarities in the different versions are of such a character as cannot be accounted for by a theory of mere chance, the ballad could not have been evolved by the' folk fancy,' whatever that may mean, for it is quite incapable of constructing a minutely detailed story." By the folk fancy, I mean here the fancy of peoples who have no professional literary class, say the Eskimo, Zulus, Algonkin, or Samoyeds. I would add European peasantry, but it is not inconceivable that literary romances might reach them, and be degraded by them, though, in fact, Perrault's printed contes, for instance, are known to be
derived from French peasant tales, which still exist, unaffected by Perrault's printed versions. But the "folk fancy" of Zulu, Algonkin, Samoyed, and Eskimo narrators is not " incapable of constructing a minutely detailed story." Every folklorist knows that, unless he believes in universal borrowing from India.
(3) " Mr. Lang has never considered the possibility of exportation at a comparatively late period." I shall be happy to consider the theory if anyone will suggest the date and port of " exportation," adding his proofs.
(4) " He has assumed that the Becket legend and the ballad could not have been derived from the same old forgotten romance." May I not ask for proof of the existence of such a romance prior to, say, 1300? I am not logically bound to prove that there never was such a romance. And, if Mr. Henderson discovers the romance, he will not necessarily prove that the ballads and the legend and the Mirchen are derived from it. As Professor Child says, it is " somewhat hastily assumed, that when romances and popular ballads have anything in common, priority belongs to the romances."
(5) " He has not realised that the intermixture of the Becket legend with the story of the ballad might have occurred at a comparatively late period." About 1300, the date of the Becket legend, is comparatively late. As Professor Child says, the ballad, though in some variants "affected by" the Becket legend, "for all that is not derived from the legend." Variants, it may be remarked, occur in Norse, Spanish, and Italian.
Mr. Henderson, of course, may be right, and Professor Child may be wrong. But at present I feel safer in agreeing with the greatest of authorities rather than with the latest editor of The Border Minstrelsy. When Mr. Henderson adds that my opinion- "frequently the popular ballad comes down in oral tradition side by side with its educated child, the literary romance on the same theme"- is "a mere fancy," I can, of course, point to Sir Aldingar, William of Malmesbury's story, the corresponding Marchen going back to the seventh century, and the ballad which Professor Child asserts to be the source of William's legend. But as I have only Professor Child's word for that ballad, Mr. Henderson may not care for the security.
Mainly Norfolk: Lord Bateman
[Roud 40; Child 53#L; Ballad Index C053; trad]
This ballad was sung by Joseph Taylor and Mr Thompson and recorded on wax cylinders for Percy Grainger in 1908; this was published in 1972 on the LP Unto Brigg Fair. This track was included in 1996 on the Topic anthology Hidden English: A Celebration of English Traditional Music.
A. L. Lloyd recorded the ballad in the early 1950's for his 78rpm record The Shooting of His Dear / Lord Bateman. Nic Jones sang it on his eponymous second album, Nic Jones. He commented in the album notes:
A number of singers have said to me at different times that in their opinion the story of Bateman is a drag. I have always viewed the ballad as a kind of epitomized Errol Flynn film, possessing great sweep and colour, in spite of a degree of predictability, and as such it deserves to stand as a classic!
A.L. Lloyd also sang Lord Bateman live at the Top Lock Folk Club, Runcorn, on November 5, 1972. This concert was published in 2010 on the Fellside CD An Evening with A.L. Lloyd.
Lord Bateman was also sung by the Albion Country Band Mk1 on Steve Ashley's album Stroll On, by Chris Wood on Wood–Wilson–Carthy and by John Roberts & Tony Barrand on Heartoutbursts: English Folksongs collected by Percy Grainger. Bob Copper reports gathering parts of just two stanzas from Frank 'Mush' Bond when he was collecting for the BBC: see Chapter 15, pp. 123-134, of his book Songs and Southern Breezes for the details; and the appendix for the words found below.
Tony Barrand notes on Heartoutbursts:
Grainger recorded a number of versions of Lord Bateman, all quite similar, from the singing of Joseph Taylor, George Wray, Joseph Leaning, and Mr. Thomson. It was one of the most popular of all the ballads, well known among traditional singers on both sides of the Atlantic. It's certainly a good tale, and it's nice to have an occasional long ballad that doesn't end in tragedy and death for all the protagonists.
And Chris Wood commented in the Wood–Wilson–Carthy sleeve notes:
This CD has been a most enjoyable experience but the cherry on the cake for me is the recording of this song, I've been living with for about eight years and the relief finally 'coming out' is no small thing. Martin [Carthy] tells me that it is the story of Gilbert Bekett and Shusha Pye who, after the song finishes, apparently went on to have a son called Thomas. It's re-written all over the place principally with the intention of shortening it.
June Tabor sang Lord Bateman in a BBC Radio 1 John Peel session recorded on January 25, 1977 and broadcast on February 22, 1977. This recording was published on her BBC EP The Peel Sessions and CD On Air. The CD sleeve notes comment:
Child no. 53, Young Beichan, this text is The Loving Ballad of Lord Bateman, published in 1839 and “derived from the singing of a London vagrant”. The legend goes back to around 1300, and is often associated with Gilbert Becket, father of (St.) Thomas à Becket.
Jon Boden sang Lord Bateman as the April 10, 2011 entry of his project A Folk Song a Day.
Lyrics:
Joseph Taylor sings Lord Bateman
Lord Bateman was a noble lord,
A noble lord of some high degree;
He shipped himself on board of ship,
Some foreign count-e-ry he would go see.
He sail-ed East, and he sail-ed West,
Until he came to p-roud Turkey,
Where he was taken and put in prison,
Until his life it-e-grew quite weary.
And in this prison there grew a tree,
It grew so large and it grew so strong;
Where he was chain-ed around the middle
Until his life it-e-was almost gone.
His gaoler [jailor] had but one only daughter,
The fairest creature my two eyes did see.
She stole the keys of her father's prison
And said Lord Bateman she would set free.
“Now have you got houses, have you got land,
And does Northumberland belong to thee?
And what would you give to that fair young lady
That out of prison would set you free?”
“Yes I've got houses and I've got land,
And half Northumberland belongs to me.
I would give it all to that fair young lady
That out of prison would set me free.”
That's what Joseph Taylor sings on the cylinder recording. The following verses which continue the story are from Tony Barrand's Heartoutbursts. Mr Thomson (more or less) sings the second and third of these on Unto Brigg Fair, in addition to those sung by Joseph Taylor (except for the one about the tree).
Chris Wood sings Lord Bateman
Lord Bateman was a noble lord,
A noble lord of high degree.
He put himself on board a ship
Some foreign country he would go see.
He sailed East and he sailed West,
Sailed in to proud Turkey;
But he was taken and put in prison
Until his life grew quite weary.
In their prisons they grew a tree,
They grew it stout and grew it strong,
And he was chained up all by the middle
Until his life was almost gone.
But Turkey had one only daughter,
As fair a lady as ever did see.
She shed her tear, she set her mind,
And she swore Lord Bateman she would go see.
“Do you have land, do you have living,
Does Northumberland belong to thee?
What would you give to a brave young lady
If out of prison she set you free?”
“I have land, land and I have living
And half Northumberland belongs to me.
I'd give it all to a brave young lady
If out of prison she would set me.”
She stole the key from her fathers pillow,
Poured Lord Bateman her fathers wine;
Every health they drank together,
“Oh I wish Lord Bateman you were mine.”
She's took him down to her father's harbour,
Found for him the ship of fame.
“Farewell, farewell, farewell Lord Bateman,
I'm sure I'll never see your face again.”
Seven long years were gone and past,
From her heart she had not ken free.
She's packed up all her gold clothing,
Swore Lord Bateman she would go see.
When she came to London city
She cried Lord Bateman through the town,
Every stranger that did pass by her
Did lead her on too Northumberland.
“Is this called Lord Bateman's castle?
Is his lordship here within?”
“Oh yes, oh yes,” cried the proud young porter,
Pray tell what news I may give to him.”
“Go tell him send me a cut of bread,
Go tell him send me a cup of wine,
And to remember the brave young lady
Who did release him when he was confined.”
Away, away tore the proud young porter.
Away, away, away went he.
He cried, “Lord Bateman, my lord and master
I'm sure Sophia has crossed the sea.”
“She has got rings, rings on every finger,
And round her middle one she wears three.
She has more gold all about her person
For to buy Northumberland from under thee.”
“She tells you send her a cut of bread
And tells you send her a cup of wine,
And to remember the brave young lady
Who did release you when you were confined.”
Lord Bateman then in silence fell
From his heart he had not been free,
“I'll give you all my Father's stable
If my Sophia has crossed the sea.”
Bateman then too his true love flew
From their hearts they had not ken free
He's kissed her hand and he's kissed her cheek
And neither man nor woman speak
And never was love so complete
Since brave Sophia have acrossed the sea.
Tony Barrand sings Lord Bateman
She took him to her marble parlor,
She gave him cake and a bottle of wine,
And every health that she drank unto him,
“I wish, Lord Bateman, that you were mine.”
“And it's seven long years I'll make a vow,
And seven long years I will keep it strong,
If you will wed with no other woman,
Then I'll not wed with no other man.”
She took him to her father's harbour,
She gave to him a ship of fame,
“Farewell and adieu to you, Lord Bateman,
I fear I'll never see you again.”
Now the seven long years were past and gone,
And fourteen days, well-known to me,
She set her foot all in a ship,
And said Lord Bateman she would go see.
And when she's come to Lord Bateman's castle,
She knocked so loudly upon the pin,
And who should come down but the proud young porter,
To rise and let this fair lady in.
“Is this here Lord Bateman's castle,
And is Lord Bateman here within?”
“Oh yes, oh yes, said the proud young porter,
“He's just now taken his new bride in.”
“Tell him to bring me a loaf of bread,
A bottle of the very best wine,
And not to forget the fair young lady
As did release him when close confined.”
“What news, what news, my proud young porter?
What news, what news? Now, tell to me.”
“There is the fairest of all young ladies
As ever my two eyes did see.”
“She bid you send her a loaf of bread,
A bottle of the very best wine,
And not to forget the fair young lady
As did release you when close confined.”
Lord Bateman he flew in a passion,
He broke the table in splinters three,
“I'll wager all my father's lands and riches
That my Sophia has come from sea.”
Then up and spoke the young bride's mother,
Who never was known to speak so free,
“What will you do for my only daughter,
If your Sophia has come from sea?”
“I own I wed your only daughter,
She's neither the better nor the worse for me,
She came to me on a horse and saddle,
She shall ride home in a carriage and three.”
Then he's prepared another wedding,
And both their hearts so full of glee,
“Oh, never more will I sail the ocean,
Now my Sophia has come to me.”
Frank Bond sings Lord Bateman
Lord Bateman was a rich noble lord
A rich noble lord of some high degree
He travelled east and he travelled west
Until he came unto proud Turkee
Alone I made a bride of your daughter,
She's none the better nor the worse for me,
You brought her here in a horse and saddle,
You may take her back in a coach and three.
A.L. Lloyd sings Lord Bateman
Lord Bateman was a noble lord,
A noble lord of some high degree,
Who set his foot on board of ship
Some foreign country would go see.
He sailed East, and he sailed West,
Until he came to proud Turkey.
Where he was taken and put in prison
Until his life it grew quite weary.
This Turkey had but one only daughter,
The fairest creature my eyes did see.
She's stolen keys from her father's pillow
And vowed Lord Bateman would be set free.
She took him to her marble parlour
with sugar, cake and the best of wine,
And ev'ry health that she drank unto him,
“O I wish, Lord Bateman, your heart was mine.
For seven long year I'll make a vow,
For seven long year I'll keep it strong;
If you don't not wed to no other woman
I will not wed to no other man.”
With seven long years she did then set sail
Till turf and stone she chanced to spy;
And she went cracking her fair white fingers
As for Lord Bateman she did enquire.
“Oh, isn't this Lord Bateman's palace?
And is the noble Lord within?”
“O yes! O yes!” said the brisk young porter,
“He and his new wed bride have just gone in.”
Lord Bateman flew into a passion,
He kicked his table in splinters three;
“I lay my life at that young Sophie
So now my new wed wife, fare well to thee.”
O then up spoke the young bride's mother
Who was never heard to speak so free:
“You'll not forget my only daughter
If but Sophia has come from sea.”
He then prepared another wedding,
With both their hearts so full of glee.
“I'll sail no more in no foreign country
Now that young Sophia she has crossed the sea.”
Nic Jones sings Lord Bateman
Lord Bateman was a noble lord,
A noble lord of high degree,
And he shipped himself on board a sailing ship,
Some foreign lands he would go and see.
He sailed East, and he sailed West,
Until he came to proud Turkey.
And he was taken and put in prison
Until his life was quite weary.
The Turkman had one only daughter,
The fairest lady me eyes did see.
And she's stolen the keys of her father's prison
And said Lord Bateman she would set free.
“Have you got houses, have you got lands?
And does Northumb'rland belong to thee?
And what would you give to the fair young lady,
As would release you and set you free?”
“Oh I've got houses and I've got lands,
And half Northumb'rland belongs to me;
And I'd grant it all to the fair young lady,
As would release me and let me free.”
She's taken him to her father's hall
And given to him a glass of wine.
And ev'ry health that she drank unto him was
“I wish, Lord Bateman, that you were mine.
For seven long years I'll make a vow,
And seven long years I'll keep it strong;
If you will wed with no other lady
Then I will wed no other man.”
She's taken him to her father's harbour,
And given to him a ship of fame:
“Farewell, farewell to you, Lord Bateman,
I fear I never shall see you again.”
Seven long years were up and past
These seven long years as I tell to thee
And she's packed up all of her gay clothing,
And said Lord Bateman she would go see.
O then up spoke the young bride's mother
Who was never heard to speak so free:
“You'll not forget my only daughter
If but Sophia has come from sea.”
When she's come to Bateman's castle,
So boldly then she did ring the bell.
“Who's there? Who's there?” Cried the proud young porter,
“Who is there, come to me tell.”
“Isn't this here Lord Bateman's castle?
And is Lord Bateman here within?”
“O yes! O yes!” cried the proud young porter,
“He's just now taken his new bride in.”
“Tell him to bring me a slice off bread,
And bring a bottle of the best of wine;
And not to forget the fair young lady
That did release him when close confined.”
Away and away went the young proud young porter,
Away and away and away went he,
And when he's come to Bateman's chamber,
Down he fell upon bended knees.
“What news, what news,” says Lord Bateman
“What news have you now brought to me?”
“There is the fairest of fine young ladies
That ever my own two eyes did see.”
“She bids you bring her a slice of bread,
And bring a bottle of the very best wine;
And not to forget the fair young lady,
That did release you when close confined.”
Bateman arose all in a passion,
He's broken his sword in splinters three;
“O I'd have give up all of my father's riches
If my Sophia have a-crossed the sea.”
Then up spoke the young bride's mother
Who never was heard to speak so free:
“What will you give to me only daughter
If your Sophia's come from sea.”
“I own I wed your only daughter;
She's neither the better nor worse for me.
She came to me on a horse and saddle;
She'll go home in a carriage and three.”
Bateman's prepared another wedding,
With all their hearts so full of glee.
“O never more will I range the ocean
Now my Sophia's come from sea.”
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Tony Barrand and Wolfgang Hell. Joseph Taylor's verses were copied from the liner notes of Unto Brigg Fair. Chris Wood's version was copied from the Wood–Wilson–Carthy sleeve notes.
Mainly Norfolk: The Turkish Lady
[Roud 8124; Laws O26; Ballad Index LO26; trad.]
The Turkish Lady is a song from the repertoire of Norfolk singer Harry Cox. Peter Kennedy recorded him singing this song at home in Catfield, Norfolk, in October 1953. In 2000, this recording was included on Harry Cox's CD What Will Become of England?. A later recording by Charles Parker and Ewan MacColl from the mid-1960s was included on his 2 CD Topic Records anthology, The Bonny Labouring Boy. Steve Roud commented in the liner notes:
Only collected a few times in England, but several times in Canada, The Turkish Lady is often presumed to be a cut-down version of the very common Young Beichan or Lord Bateman (Roud 40; Child 53), which also has a hero who gets captured by infidels and is set free by a lady. In fact, however, Young Beichan cannot be shown to be earlier than The Turkish Lady, as the latter was certainly known in 1768, when it was transcribed into the journal of the whaling ship Two Brothers (see Gale Huntingdon, Songs the Whalemen Sang (1964)).
Peter Bellamy learned The Turkish Lady from the singing of Harry Cox and sang it in 1969 on his second LP, Fair England's Shore. Peter Bellamy commented in the album's sleeve notes:
Around the middle of the seventeenth century the pirates of the Barbary coast were much in the news, and bristling encounters between British and Arab ships were not uncommon. Many English seamen were captured and lay in chains in the prisons of North Africa, and their plight inspired a number of songs, tragic, adventurous, romantic. The songmakers didn't distinguish between Moors and Turks, so in the ballads the Ottomans often get blamed for the misdeeds of Arabs, as in Lord Bateman, a close relative to the present piece. The Turkish Lady was first printed in a garland date 1782, and fifty years later it appeared, copied verbatim, on a broadside by Catnach. The present version, from Harry Cox, is slightly condensed but in the main follows the broadside word for word, a remarkable evidence of the constancy of some folk song texts and the regulating effect of print upon them. The tune will be recognised as a close variant of the old wedding ceremonial song Come Write Me Down, Ye Powers Above.
Lyrics
Peter Bellamy sings The Turkish Lady
You virgins all I pray draw near
For a pretty story you shall hear:
It is of some Turkish young lady brave
Who fell in love with an English slave.
There was a ship out of London she came.
As she was sailing on the main,
By a Turkish pirate took were they
And they were made all slaves to be.
They bound us down in irons strong,
And then they whipped and they lashed us all day long.
And no tongue may tell that I am sure
What we poor slaves had to endure.
And one of them seaman that were there,
An English man both fresh and fair,
Well, it happened for his lot to be
A slave all to some rich lady.
And she dressed herself up in rich array
Then she went for to view her slaves one day.
And hearing the moan this young man made,
She went to him and thus she said.
“Oh, I pray what countryman are you?”
“I am an English man 'tis true.”
“Well I wish you had been a Turk,” said she,
“I would ease you of your slavery.”
“And if that you had been a Turk,
Then I would ease you of all your slavery work.
And I myself might have been your wife
For I do love you as I love my life.”
“Oh no, oh no, oh no,” said he,
“For a slave I am and a slave I will be.
I wouldd sooner die all at the stake
Before I would my God forsake.”
So this lady up all to her chamber she went,
There she spent that night in discontent.
For Cupied with his piercing dart
Had deeply wounded the lady's heart.
And she rose up so early the very next day,
And with her slave she sailed away.
To whips and chains they bid adieu
And this will show what love will do.