Robin Hood & Little John- Flemming (NS) 1950 Creighton
[From: Creighton, Maritime Folk Songs (1961) pp. 19-20. Also titled, "When Robin Hood Was About Twenty Years Old."
R. Matteson 2015]
ROBIN HOOD AND LITTLE JOHN - as sung by Mrs. Gilbert Flemming, Ketch Harbor, September, 1950.
1. When Robin Hood he was about twenty years old
He happened to meet Little John,
It was down by brook his journey he took
And a stranger he happened to spy
They happened to meet on a long narrow bridge
When neither of them would give way,
So bold Robin Hood he firmly stood
Saying "I'll show you now Nottingham play."
2 "You speak like an ass," now Robin he said,
"Well armed with your long bow you stand,
To point at my breast, therefore I'll protest,
I'm here but a staff in my hand.',
"The name of a coward," says Robin, "I'll scorn,
Therefore my long bow I'll lay by,
It is for you^r sake a staff I will take,
The truth of your manhood to try."
3 Then away goes Robin Hood to the thickest of the trees,
And he choosed out a staff of good oak,
When this he had done, 'twas back he had come
And this to the stranger he spoke,
"Now here's my staff, it's both lusty and tough,
And here on this bridle let us play,
The first that falls in the other will win
The battle and we will away."
4 "Indeed," said the stranger, "my hearty brave soul,
I will scorn the least to give out,"
And without much to do 'twas there he fell to
And it was there they did flourish about'
And with that he gave Robin a crack on the crown,
Which causing the blood to appear,
Then Robin in a rage so fiercely engaged
And followed his blows most severe.
5 With that in a fury the stranger he gr€ew,
He gave him one terrible look,
And with a stout blow he laid him down low
And he tumbled him right in the brook,
"Now where art thou my hearty brave soul?"
When laughing the stranger replies,
"Faith I'm in the brook," said bold Robin Hood,
"I'm floating away with the tide"'
6 Then away swam Robin to the thickest of trees
And he hauls himself up by a thorn,
And on it at last he blew a loud blast
Straightway on his fine bugle horn,
When the echo of it made the valleys to ring,
Soon then his bowmen appeared,
Well-clothed in green was plain to be seen
Straight up to their master did steer.
7. "Dear master, dear master," said Will Stut-e-ly,
"Dear master you're wet to the skin,
"No matter," said he, "that lad that you see,
By fighting has tumbled me in."
"To duck him likewise," "No," Robin replies,
"But he is a fine bowman for me."