Bluegrass Messengers

Sheet Music: The Elfin Knight

Sheet Music Elfin Knight

[I've included Bronson's 55 texts at the bottom. The difficulty with Child No. 2, The Elfin Knight, is the large number of titles and variants. See the list below and also the Roun List with 260 versions attached to the Recordings & Info page.]

Titles: Child No. 2, The Elfin Knight

Blow Ye Winds, Blow
Redio- Tedio
The Laird o' Elfin
An Acre of Land
Strawberry Lane
Whittingham Fair
Cambric Shirt
Love's Impossibilities

----------------------------

Whittingham Fair- Bruce and Stokoe (1882)BNM, pp. 79-80.

Whittingham Fair is related to Scarborough Fair and is included under #2 in the Child canon (The Elfin Knight). Child (1882-1898)CPB refers to Bruce and Stokoe's variant in vol II, p495. Bronson (1959-1972)BTT also has this variant (vol I, p19), but for some reason changes the key from E Minor to G Minor. Bruce and Stokoe don't give a source for this ballad, except to say that it is popular in the north and west of the county of Northumberland.

                                                 Whittingham Fair

1. Are you going to Whittingham fair,
    Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme;
Remember me to one who lives there,
    For once she was a true love of mine.

2. Tell her to make me a cambric shirt,
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme;
Without any seam or needlework,
For once she was a true love of mine.

3. Tell her to wash it in yonder well,
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme;
Where never spring water nor rain ever fell,
For once she was a true love of mine.

4. Tell her to dry it on yonder thorn,
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme;
Which never bore blossom since Adam was born,
For once she was a true love of mine.

5. Now he has asked me questions three,
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme;
I hope he will answer as many for me,
For once he was a true love of mine.

6. Tell him to find me an acre of land,
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme;
Betwixt the salt water and the sea sand,
For once he was a true love of mine.

7. Tell him to plough it with a ram's horn,
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme;
And sow it all over with one pepper corn,
For once he was a true love of mine.

8. Tell him to reap it with a sickle of leather,
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme;
And bind it up with a peacock's feather,
For once he was a true love of mine.

9. When he has done and finished his work,
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme;
O tell him come and he'll have his shirt,
For once he was a true love of mine.

-----------------------------------
Scarborough Fair- Kidson (1891) KTT, pp. 43-44.

Scarborough Fair is included under #2 in the Child cannon (The Elfin Knight). Child (1882-1898)CPB also has this variant. However, it is in the "Additions and Corrections" sections of vol II (pp495-496) and vol IV (p440). Bronson (1959-1972)BTT also has this variant (vol I, p18). However, Bronson slightly alters the score, changing it from a 3/4 to a 6/8 time signature. Bronson also makes a correction to the text, changing "thine" in verse 4 to "mine".

According to Kidson, his copy, including the tune, used to be sung by by a ballad singer in Whitby streets twenty or thirty years before he published his volume, and was still remembered in the district. Regarding the lyrics on the score, the lyrics are as set out in Kidson's book. The lyrics do not quite match the words in the text. In Kidson's original score, the noteheads for the two downward-stemmed minims (in the 3rd and 13th bars - partial bar is bar 0) faced the 'wrong' way.

Scarborough Fair

Scarborough Fair 2- Tune only (Text is attached from Scarborough Fair 1) Kidson (1891)KTT, pp43-44. [The original lyrics- below- repeated the 2nd line of each stanza]

Is any of you going to Scarborough Fair?
Remember me to a lad as lives there,
Remember me to a lad as lives there;
For once he was a true lover of mine.

Tell him to bring me an acre of land
Betwixt the wild ocean and yonder sea sand; {bis)
And then he shall be a true lover of mine.

Tell him to plough it with one ram's horn,
And sow it all over with one peppercorn; (bis)
And then he shall be a true lover of mine.

Tell him to reap it with sickle of leather,
And bind it together with one peacock feather: (bis)
And then he shall be a true lover of mine.

And now I have answered your questions three,
I hope you'll answer as many for me; (bis)
And then thou shalt be a true lover of mine.

Is any of you going to Scarborough Fair?
Remember me to a lass as lives there; (bis)
For once she was a true lover of mine.

Tell her to make me a cambric shirt,
Without any needles or thread or owt tbrough't: (bis)
And then she shall be a true lover of mine.

Tell her to wash it by yonder wall
Where water ne'er sprung, nor a drop o' rain fall; (bis)
And then she shall be a true lover of mine.

Tell her to dry it on yonder thorn,
Where blossom ne'er grew sin' Adam was born; (bis)
And then she shall be a true lover of mine.

And now I have answered your questions three,
And I hope you'll answer as many for me, (bis)
And then thou shalt be a true lover of mine.

[This song was taken down by H. M. Bower, Esq., in December, 1891, from William Moat, a Whitby fisherman. The singer lays special importance upon the pauses, which, he says, should be " doddered " and held very long. If any answers to the various tasks proposed ever existed, they are now lost; but it is not certain that these verses were ever sung; nor is the application of the two tunes at all certain, though the arrangement which gives verses one and six to the first tune and the rest to the second, suits the character of the words, and is that followed by the singer. The answers, if they existed, would have been sung to the first tune; but it is strange that, if so, no trace of them should remain except such as is to be found in verses five and ten. No attempt has been made to represent the dialect phonetically. Compare the two versions given in Kidson's Traditional Tunes, which complete the four-line stanza without repetition, by a refrain for the second line. The tune of "The Seasons of the Year" (Sussex, p. 143 ) is evidently a variant of the second tune given above.]

Second version of air provided by Kidson. Obtained from Mr. A. Wardill, Goatland. No text was provided by Kidson for this version. Text was added with alterations to fit the air.

Scarborough Fair 2- Kidson

Traditional Ballads in New England II------------------------------------
by Phillips Barry
The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 18, No. 70 (Jul. - Sep., 1905), pp. 191-214

A. "Blow Ye Winds, Blow." No. 3, in "Family Songs," compiled by Rosa S. Allen, in whose family it has been traditional for many generations.

1. You must make me a fine Holland shirt:
Blow, blow, blow, ye winds blow.
And not have in it a stitch of needle-work:
Blow, ye winds that arise, blow, blow.

2 You must wash it in yonder spring,
Where there's never a drop of water in.

3 You must dry it on yonder thorn,
Where the sun never yet shone on.

4. My father's got an acre of land,
You must dig it with a goose quill.

5. You must sow it with one seed,
You must reap it with your thumb nail.

6. You must thrash it on yonder sea,
And not get it wet, or let a kernel be.

7. You must grind it on yonder hill,
Where there yet has ne'er stood a mill.

8. When you've done, and finished your work,
Bring it unto me, and you shall have your shirt.

B. Recorded about 1875, by S. A. F., Providence, R. I., from the singing of an aged man, born in the year 1800.

1. I want you to make me a cambric shirt,
Parsley and sage, rosemary and thyme,
Without any needle or any fine work,
And then you shall be a true lover of mine.

2 Go wash it out in yonder well,
Where there's never no water nor drop of rain fell.

3. Go hang it out on yonder thorn,
Where there's never no blossom, since Adam was born.

4. Now, since you have asked me questions three,
I pray you would grant me the same liberty.

5. I want you to buy me an acre of land,
Between the salt water and the sea sand.

6. Go plough it all up with one cuckold's horn,
Go sow it all down with one peppercorn.

7. Go reap it all up with a sickle of leather,
And bind it all up with one cock's feather.

Strawberry Lane: from Ballads and Songs----------------------------
by G. L. Kittredge
The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 30, No. 117 (Jul. - Sep., 1917), pp. 283-369

[Strawberry Lane]
Communicated in 1914 by Mr. E. Russell Davis, as remembered by his mother and himself from the singing of his grandfather, Mr. William Henry Banks (born 1834), a vessel-owner of Maine.

1. As I was a-walking up Strawberry Lane, -
Every rose grows merry and fine, -
I chanced'for to meet a pretty, fair maid,
Who wanted to be [1] a true-lover of mine.

2. "You'll have for to make me a cambric shirt, -
Every rose grows merry and fine, -
And every stitch must be finicle work,
Before you can be a true-lover of mine.

3. "You'll have for to wash it in a deep well, -
Every rose grows merry and fine, -
Where water never was nor rain ever fell,
Before you can be a true-lover of mine."

[The man goes on to make several more conditions. Finally the girl turns on him thus: -]

4. "Now, since you have been so hard with me, -
Every rose grows merry and fine, -
Perhaps I can be as hard with thee,
Before you can be a true-lover of mine.

5. "You'll have for to buy me an acre of ground, -
Every rose grows merry and fine, -
Before you can be a true-lover of mine.

6. "You'll have for to plough it with a deer's horn, -
Every rose grows merry and fine, -
And plant it all over with one grain of corn,
Before you can be a true-lover of mine.

7. "You'll have for to thrash it in an eggshell, -
Every rose grows merry and fine, -
And bring it to market in a thimble,[2]
Before you can be a true-lover of mine."

Footnotes Strwberry Lane:

1 Or "said she would be."
2 Or, "And take it to market where man never dwelled."

Brown Collection of NC Folklore------------------------------------------

D. Mrs. James York of Olin, Iredell county. Recorded at Boone, September 14, 1941, by Dr. W. A. Abrams. For additional titles to those given in BTBNA 30, of. BB 2-3: 'Whittingham Fair'; also AFM No. 9: 'Parsley and Sage.' The latter is also the refrain of the former.

Scale: Hexatonic (4), plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: aa1 (4,4). Circular Tune (V).

B. 'Rose de Marian Time.' Sung by Mrs. Fannie Norton of Norton, Jackson county. Recorded at Chapel Hill, 1936, by Professor Richard Chase.

1. As you go through yonder town
Rose de Marian Time!
Take this dress to that young la dy
And tell her she is a true lover of mine.

Variant text of stanza 2:

Tell her to make me a cambric shirt,
Rose de Marian time!
Without any seam or seamster's work,
Then she'll be a true lover of mine.

For melodic relationship, of. OSSG 18, No. 8. Scale: Mode III. Tonal Center: d. Structure: ab (4,4).

Redio-Tedio-----------------------------------------------------------

This version of Child 2- The Elfin Knight was sung by Mrs. Susie Carr Young of Brewer, Maine; She learned it from Sybil Emery in 1882. A similar version titled, "The Cambric Shirt" with a recording was collected in nearby Eddington, Maine from Mrs. Gray in teh early 1960's. See her version in my collection with a link to the recording.

REDIO, TEDIO Sung by Mrs. Susie Carr Young, Brewer, Maine; Learned from Sybil Emery in 1882. Melody recorded by George Herzog, see Barry, Eckstorm and Smyth, 1929, pp. 3-4 and also The Singing Tradition of Child's Popular Ballads, Bronson.

(he) I want you to make me a cambric shirt
Fum-a-lum-a-link, sup-a-loo-my-nee
With neither seam nor needlework
Redio, tedio, toddle-bod-bedio
Fum-a-lum-a-link, sup-a-loo-my-nee

(she) I want you to buy me an acre of land
Between salt water and the sea-sand.

Plow it o'er with an old buck's horn
Plant it o'er with one peppercorn.

Reap it down with a peacock's feather
Bind it up with the sting of an adder.

Thrash it out with a mouse's tail
Cart it in on the back of a snail.

When you have completed your work
Come to me, you shall have your shirt.
-----------------------------------------
Bronson's 55 Texts: The Elfin Knight (Child 2)

Bronson breaks the Elfin Knight into three main melodic groups A, B, and C. I've added the groups as titles below.

[Music will be added]

Group A

X:1 [Cover versions have been made of Robb's ballad, notably Ewan MacColl on Classic Scots Ballads, Tradition TCD 1051 recorded 1959.]
T:The Laird o' Elfin
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Greig MSS, p. 139; text, Bk. 739, XXIX, pp. 6off. Also
O:in Greig and Keith, 1925, p. 2(1). Sung by Alexander
O:Robb, New Deer, Aberdeenshire, 1908.
N:Child 2
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Dm % Hexatonic ( -2) Aeolian/Phrygian Bronson has it as Dor/Aeo
D2 | D2>D2 B2 A2 | G2 DD C2 z2 |
w:The Laird o' El-fin stands on yon hill
D4 D4 | C2 DF G2 Bc | d2>d2 B2 A2 |
w:Ba ba ba lee-lie ba And he blows his trum-pet
GD-D2 C2 B,C | D2>C2 B,2 C2 | D2 G2 G2 |]
w:loud and* shrill And the wind blows aye my plaid a-wa.
W:
W:The Laird o' Elfin stands on yon hill
W:Ba ba ba lee-lie ba
W:And he blows his trum-pet loud and shrill
W:And the wind blows aye my plaid a-wa.
W:
W:O gin I'd that horn in my kist
W:And then get wedded wi' him next.
W:
W:But afore that I do that to thee
W:A weel-sewed sark ye maun sew to me.
W:
W:And ye maun sew it needle-thread free
W:And a weel-sewed sark ye maun sew to me.
W:
W:But afore that I do this to thee
W:I'll gie ye some wark to do to me.
W:
W:I have a little wee acre o' lan'
W:That's atween the salt seas & the san'
W:
W:And ye maun ploo't wi your bugle horn
W:And ye maun saw't wi' Indian Corn.
W:
W:And ye maun cut it wi' your pen knife
W:And bind it up just as your life.
W:
W:And ye maun thrasht in yout shee-sole
W:And ye maun riddle't in yonder moose hole.
W:
W:And ye maun winny't in your nieves
W:And ye maun seek it in your gloves.
W:
W:And ye maun stook it on the sea
W:And a dry sheaf ye maun bring to me.
W:
W:Robin Redbreast and the wran
W:They'll bring me my corn hame.
W:
W:And when ye have done a' this wark
W:Come ye to me & ye'll get your sark.

Blow, Ye Winds, Blow

X:2
T:Blow, Ye Winds, Blow
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Barry, JAF, XVIII (1905), pp212 and 49-50, as from
O:"Family Songs compiled by Rosa Allen," 1899, p.14 in
O:whose family, of Medfield, Mass., it had long been traditional.
O:Also in Linscott, 1939, pp. 170-71.
H:The Linscott copy was sung by Lucy Allen, West Newton, Mass.;
learned from her uncle, c. 1870.
Barry connects this tune with "Dunnocht Head" (R.A. Smith, The
Scottish Minstrel, III, p.96), but if perhaps there is a resemblance in
first and last phrases, this does not hold true of the earlier copy in
the SMM, No. 375.
N:Child 2
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:G
G2 B2 d2 dd | e2 ee d2 z2 | Ld4 Ld4 |
w:You must make me a fine Hol-land shirt, Blow, blow
d2 cG A2>A2 | B2 B2 A2 AA | BB dB G2 z2 |
w:blow ye winds, blow, And not have in it a stitch of need-le work,
G2 G2 A2 GA |IB2 G2 G2 z2 |]
w:Blow, ye winds that a-rise, blow, blow.
W:
W:You must make me a fine Hol-land shirt,
W:Blow, blow, blow ye winds, blow,
W:And not have in it a stitch of need-le work,
W:Blow, ye winds that a-rise, blow, blow.
W:
W:You must wash it in yonder spring,
W:Where there's never a drop of water in.
W:
W:You must dry it on yonder thorn,
W:Where the sun never yet shone on.
W:
W:My Father's got an acre of land,
W:You must dig it with a goose quill.
W:
W:You must sow it with one seed,
W:You must reap it with your thumb nail.
W:
W:You must thrash it on yonder sea,
W:And not get it wet, or let a kernel be.
W:
W:You must grind it on yonder hill,
W:Where there yet has ne'er stood a mill.
W:
W:When you've done, and finished your work,
W:Bring it unto me, and you shall have your shirt.
----------------------

X:3
T:Redio-Tedio
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Barry, Eckstorm and Smyth, 1929, pp. 3-4. Sung by Mrs.
O:Susie Carr Young, Brewer, Maine; Learned from Sybil
O:Emery in 1882. Melody recorded by George Herzog.
H:N.B. that Herzog noted this air in 4/4, but in notes of only
half the values given here.
N:Child 2
M:C|
K:Gmix %Pentatonic ( -6 -7) irregular
G | G2 Bc d2 dd | d2 g2 d4 |
w:I want you to make me a camb-ric shirt,
cccc c2 AA | B2 B2 B2>B2 | G2 B2 d2 d2 |
w:Fum a lum a link, sup a loop my knee, With neith-er seam or
d2 g2 d4 | cA A2 BG G2 | dd d2 BG G2 |
w:Need-le work, Red-i-o ted-i-o, tod-dle bod bed-i-o,
dddd d2 cc | B2 A2 G3 |]
w:Fum a lum a link, sup a loop my knee.
W:
W:I want you to make me a camb-ric shirt,
W:Fum a lum a link, sup a loop my knee,
W:With neith-er seam or Need-le work,
W:Red-i-o ted-i-o, tod-dle bod bed-i-o,
W:Fum a lum a link, sup a loop my knee.
W:
W:I want you to buy me an acre of land,
W:Between salt water and the sea-sand.
W:
W:Plow it o'er with an old buck's horn,
W:Plant it o'er with one peppercorn.
W:
W:Reap it down with a peacock's feather,
W:Bind it up with the sting of an adder.
W:
W:Thrash it out with a mouse's tail,
W:Cart it in on the back of a snail.
W:
W:When you have completed your work,
W:Come to me, you shall have your shirt.

-----------------------------------------

X:4
T:Oh say, do you know the way to Selin?
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Ring, 1937, pp. 12-13. Sung by "Aunt Fannie" Parker,
O:Carthage, Maine.
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Hexatonic ( -7) Ion/Mix; Bronson says it's Pi 1, but it's got a C in it.
G | A2 BA G2 G2 | A2 BA G4 |
w:Oh, say do you know the way to Sel-in?
GG A2 BA G2 | dd dd d2 z d | ee ee dd B2 |
w:Hick-a-lack, tick-a-lack farm-a-lack a day, Re-mem-ber me to a young la-
A2 B2 G4 | AA A2 BA G2 | AA BB d2 dc | B2 A2 G2 |]
w:dy there-in. Hick-a-lack, tick-a-lack farm-a-lack a day, Just be-low my knee.
W:
W:Oh, say do you know the way to Selin?
W:(Hickalack, tickalack farmalack-a-day.)
W:Remember me to a young lady therein.
W:(Hickalack, tickalack farmalack-a-day,
W:Just below my knee.)
W:
W:If she will buy one inch of cloth,
W:To make a shirt to wear thereof.
W:
W:Tell her to sew it up without any seam,
W:And wash it in water that never was seen.
W:
W:Tell her to wring it out of a dry well,
W:Where never a drop of rainwater fell.
W:
W:And hang it out on a bush of thorn,
W:Which never bore bud since Adam was born.
W:
W:Oh say, do you know the way back again?
W:Remember me to a young man therein.
W:
W:If he will buy one acre of land;
W:Between the salt water and the sea sand.
W:
W:Tell him to plow it with one turtle's horn;
W:And plant it all over with one peppercorn.
W:
W:Tell him to reap it down with a goose quill;
W:And winnow it up inyo an egg shell.
W:
W:Tell him to reap it down into a trice;
W:And haul it home with a yoke of mice.
W:
W:Tell him to put it into a dry barn;
W:Which never's been boarded since Adam was born.
W:
W:Tell the man when he's done his work,
W:To come to me and he will have his shirt.

X:5
T:The Cambric Shirt
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Major, PTFLS, X (1932), pp 137-38. Sung by Mrs. J.C.
O:Marshall, Quanah, Texas.
M:C|
K:Gmix % Hexatonic Ionian/Mixolydian
BBBB | d2 dd B2 B2 | d2>d2 e2 d2 |
w:"Mad-am will you make me a cam-bric shirt, With not one
c2 A2 d2 B2 | B4 ddBB | ddBB A2 G2 |
w:stitch of need-le work? Keed-le up, a keed-le up, a turp, turp
c4 BBBB | c2 BB c2 A2 | G4 |]
w:tay, Tum a lum a do, Cast-le on my nay.
W:
W:"Madam will you make me a cam-bric shirt,
W:With not one stitch of need-le work?"
W:
W:Chorus:
W:Keedle up, a keedle up, a-turp, turp tay,
W:Tum a lum a do, Castle on my nay.
W:
W:"Wash it out in an old dry well,
W:Where never a drop of water fell."
W:
W:"Hang it out on an old dry thorn,
W:Where the sun never shone since Adam was born."
W:
W:"Kind sir, will you buy me an acre of land
W:Between salt waters and sea sand?"
W:
W:"Plow it up with an old ram's horn,
W:And seed it down with one grain of corn."
W:
W:"Cut it down with an old case knife
W:And haul it in with a yoke of mice."
W:
W:"Then when you've done and finished your work,
W:You can come home and get your cambric shirt."

X:6
T:Scarborough Fair
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Flanders and Brown, 1931, pp. 194-96. Sung by Ola Leonard
O:(Mrs Ivan W.) Gray, East Calais, Vt., from family tradition.
O:Collected by Sylvia Bliss, Plainfield, Vt. From "Vermont
O:Folk Songs and Ballads", edited by Helen Hartness Flanders
O:and George Brown; Copyright 1931 by Arthur Wallace Peach.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G % Hexatonic ( -6) irregular
G | GGG Bdd | BAB d2 z |
w:Oh where are you go-ing? I'm go-ing to Lynn,
GGG B2 d | B3 d2 z | GGG Bdd | BAB d2 B |
w:Fel-low ma la cus lome-ly. Give my res-pects to the la-dy there-in, Ma
dcB dcB | AAA ABc | BAB d2 F | A3 G2 |]
w:ke ta lo, ke ta lo, tam pa lo, tam pa lo, Fel-low ma la cus lome-ly.
W:
W:"Oh where are you going?" "I'm going to Lynn,"
W:Fellow ma la cus lomely.
W:"Give my respects to the lady therein,
W:Ma-ke-ta-lo, ke-ta-lo, tam-pa-lo, tam-pa-lo,
W:Fellow ma la cus lomely.
W:
W:Tell her to buy me a yard of cloth,
W:And make me a cambric shirt thereof.
W:
W:Tell her to make it with a gold ring,
W:Stitch it and sew it without a seam.
W:
W:Tell her to wash it in yonder well,
W:Where never a drop of water yet fell.
W:
W:Tell her to dry it on yonder thorn,
W:That never was rooted since Adam was born.
W:
W:"Oh where are you going?" "I'm going to Japan,
W:Give my respects to this same young man.
W:
W:Tell him to buy me an acre of land,
W:Between the salt sea and the sea sand.
W:
W:Tell him to plow it with a deer's horn,
W:Sow it all over with one peppercorn.
W:
W:Tell him to reap it with a sea fowl's quill,
W:Tan it all up into an eggshell.
W:
W:And when he has completed his work,
W:Come onto me and he shall have his shirt.

Tunes 7 - 13 are without words, and may or may not be related
to the ballad, so I have omitted them.

X:14
T:The Tasks
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Baring-Gould MSS., CXXVIII(2); text; (A) apparently
O:composite.
H:Sung by Joseph Dyer, Mawgan-in-Pyder, Cornwall, O:July 6,
1891. Noted by F. W. Bussell.
N:Child 2
N:I can't see for the life of me how this set of words is
N:supposed to fit this tune, so I've left it just as it is in
N:the book. The letter S represents a short phrase-mark which
N:is supposed to indicate the position of the line ends.
N:Programs other than BarFly may draw a segno here, which is
N:OK as long as you know what it means.
G:B
M:6/8
K:G
D | G2 D G2 G | B2 B A3 S| G2 G F2 E | DEF G2 :|
D | EFG ABc | ddB GD SD | d2 d e2 d | cBA G |]
W:
W:Thou must buy me my lady, a cambrick shirt
W:Whilst every grove rings with a merry antine.
W:And stitch it without any needle work
W:O and then thou shalt be a true love of mine.
W:
W:And thou must wash it in yonder well,
W:Where never a drop of water in fell.
W:
W:And thou must hang it upon a white thorn,
W:That never has blossomed since Adam was born.
W:
W:And when that these tasks are finished & done,
W:I'll take thee & marry thee under the sun.
W:
W:Or ever I do these two and three,
W:I will set of tasks as many to thee.
W:
W:Thou must buy for me an acre of land,
W:Between the salt ocean and the yellow sand.
W:
W:Thou must plough it o'er with a horse's horn,
W:And sow it over with one peppercorn.
W:
W:Thou must reap it too, with a piece of leather,
W:And bind it all up with a peacock's feather.
W:
W:And when these tasks are finished and done,
W:O then I will marry thee under the sun.
W:
W:(An extra verse from John Dyer)
W:Pray take it up in a bottomless sack,
W:And every leaf grows merry in time,
W:And bear it to the mill on a butterfly's back
W:O then you shall be a true lover of mine.

Group B

X:15
T:The Tasks
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Baring-Gould MSS., CXXVIII(3);
H:Sung by S. Lobb, O:Mawgan-in-Pyder, Cornwall, April 1893.
Noted by F. W. Bussell
In the MS., the 10th and 8th notes from the end (D and d) are
Inadvertently written as quarters instead of eighths. This version
commences like "Jog on" (Dancing master,, 1650, p. 53, and later),
which is the Elizabethan "Hanskin" (Fitzwilliam Book, 1899, II, pp. 494ff.).
Also cf. D'Urfey, Pills, 1719, IV, p. 32 ("The Catholick Ballad")
and IV, p. 37 ("Sir Francis Drake; or, Eighty Eight"); and
Chappell, I, pp. 211-13.
N:Child 2
N:No Lyrics given
G:B
M:6/8
K:G
D | G2 D G2 A | BcB A3 |
EFG F2 E | DEF G3 | GGG ABc |
dBG F<D D | d2 d eed | cBA G3 |]

X:16
T:The Lover's Tasks
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Sharp MSS., 219/306.
H:Sent by Mr. Gilbert, June 2, 1904; from his collection.
N:Child 2
G:B
M:6/8
K:G % p I
D | G2 D GGA | BcB A2 z |
w:O, can you make me a cam-*bric shirt?
G2 G F2 D | DEF G2 A | ABc ded |
w:Ev-ery leaf grows ma-ny a time. With-out an-y need-le or
dBG FE D | d2 d e2 d | BBA G2 |]
w:an-y fine work, And you shall be a true lov-er of mine.
W:
W:O, can you make me a cambric shirt?
W:Every leaf grows many a time
W:Without any needle or any fine work
W:And you shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:And wash it down in yonder well
W:Where neither spring water nor rain ever fell.
W:
W:And dry it off on yonder thorn
W:Where there grew no leaf since Adam was born.
W:
W:O, can you buy me an acre of land
W:Betwixt the salt water and the sea sand?
W:
W:And plough it all over with a snail's horn
W:And sow it throughout with one barleycorn.
W:
W:Then gather the crop in a no-bottom sack
W:And send it to mill on a butterfly's back.

X:17
T:Scarbro Fair
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Child MSS., XXI, No. 18.
H:Sent by Frank Kidson, 1884; from oral tradition (? Yorkshire).
N:Child 2
G:B
M:6/8
K:G
D | GGG ABc | d2 d A3 |
w:Oh where are you go-ing? To Scar-bro fair,
BBB cBA | GGE D2 D | G2 G ABc |
w:Sa-vou-ry sage* rose-ma-ry and thyme. Re-mem-ber me to a
ddd IA Bc | dBG DGF | DGG G2 |]
w:lass who lives there, For_ once she_ was a true lov-er of mine
W:
W:"Oh where are you going"? "To Scarbro fair,
W:Savoury sage rosemary & thyme
W:Remember me to a lass who lives there
W:For once she was a true lover of mine
W:
W:And tell her to make me a cambric shirt
W:Without a needle or thread or ought else.
W:
W:And tell her to wash it in yonder well
W:Where water ne'er sprung nor a drop of rain fell.
W:
W:And tell her to hang it on yonder stone
W:Where moss never grew since Adam was born.
W:
W:And when she has finsished and done her I'll repay
W:She can come onto me and married we'll be.
W:
W: (The Reply)
W:
W:"Oh where are you going"? "To Scarbro fair,
W:Remember me to a lad who lives there
W:
W:And tell him to buy me an acre of land
W:Between the wide ocean & the sea sand.
W:
W:And tell him to plough it with a ram's horn
W:And sow it all over with one peppercorn.
W:
W:And tell him to reap't with a sickle of leather
W:And bind it up with a peacock's feather.
W:
W:And when he has finished and done his work
W:He can come unto me for his cambric shirt.

X:18
T:Scarborough Fair
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Kidson, 1891, pp. 43-44. Also, with piano accompaniment,
O:in Kidson, Kidson and Moffat, 1927, p. 30. Sung by a
O:street-singer, Whitby, Yorkshire, c. 1860.
N:Child 2
G:B
M:6/8
K:GMix % Hexatonic ( -7) Ionian/Mixolydian
D | GGG ABc | d2 d A3 |
w:Oh where are you go-ing? To Scar-borough fair,
BBB cBA | GGE D2 D | G2 G ABc |
w:Sa-vou-ry sage_ rose-ma-ry, and thyme; Re-mem-ber me to a
ddd A2 B | c2 c cB A | DGG G2 |]
w:lass who lives there, For once she was a true love_ of mine.
W:
W:"Oh where are you going?" "To Scarborough fair,"
W:Savoury sage, rosemary, and thyme;
W:"Remember me to a lass who lives there,
W:For once she was a true love of mine.
W: (or "And then she shall be..." or "Or never be..." as appropriate)
W:
W:"And tell her to make me a cambric shirt,
W:Without any seam or needlework.
W:
W:"And tell her to wash it in yonder dry well,
W:Where no water sprung nor a drop of rain fell.
W:
W:"Tell her to dry it on yonder thorn,
W:Which never bore blossom since Adam was born.
W:
W:"Oh will you find me an acre of land,
W:Between the sea foam, the sea sand.
W:
W:"Oh will you plough it with a ram's horn,
W:And sow it all over with one peppercorn.
W:
W:"Oh will you reap it with a sickle of leather,
W:And tie it all up with a peacock's feather.
W:
W:"And when you have done and finished your work,
W:You may come to me for your cambric shirt.

X:20
T:Scarborough Fair
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Broadwood and Maitland, 1893, pp. 12-13. Sung by William Moat,
O:a Whitby fisherman, North Riding, Yorkshire, December, 1891.
O:Noted by H. M. Bower.
H:The editors note that this tune is related to a Sussex song,
"The Seasons of the Year" (op.cit., p. 143); and the latter in
turn to a Wiltshire "Sheep-shearing Song" (ibid., p. 149). With
the second half, above, cf. "Over Yonder's a Park" (JEFSS, IV
[1910], p. 63). This singer, say the editors, insisted on the
long pauses.
N: H means fermata (lengthen the note) I means inverted fermata (shorten it).
N:Child 2
G:B
P:AB4AB4 % A part - Stanzas 1 and 6, B part - Stanzas 2-5, 7-10
M:6/8
K:G
P:A
"Stanzas 1 and 6"D | GGG ABc | d2 d HA2 B |
w:Is any of you going to Scar-bor-ough Fair? Re-
c>Bc d>BA | G>FG HD2 D | G2 G A>Bc |
w:mem-*ber me to a lad as lives there, Re-mem-ber me to a
d>ed IA2 d | d2 D D>DD | D>EF G3 ||
w:lad as lives there; For once he was a true lov-er of mine.
P:B
K:Am
"Stanzas 2-5, 7-10"AAA GAB | c>dc B2 G | A>AA c>BA |
w:Tell him to bring me an ac-re of land, Bet-wixt the wild oce-an and
d>cd ({d}He2) IA | c>de f>ed | e>AA {G}A2 B |
w:yon-der sea* sand, Bet-wixt the wild oce-an and yon-der sea* sand, And
c>dc B>AA | D>A^G HA2 |]
w:then he shall be a true lov-er of mine.
W:
W:Is any of you going to Scarborough Fair?
W:Remember me to a lad as lives there,
W:Remember me to a lad as lives there;
W:For once he was a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Tell him to bring me an acre of land
W:Betwixt the wild ocean and yonder sea sand (bis)
W:And then he shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Tell him to plough it with one ram's horn,
W:And sow it all over with one peppercorn. (bis)
W:
W:Tell him to reap it with a sickle of leather,
W:And bind it together with one peacock's feather. (bis)
W:
W:And now I have answered you questions three,
W:I hope you'll answer as many for me. (bis)
W:
W:Is any of you going to Scarborough Fair?
W:Remember me to a lass as lives there, (bis)
W:For once she was a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Tell her to make me a cambric shirt,
W:Without any needles or thread or owt through't. (bis)
W:And then she shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Tell her to wash it by yonder wall,
W:Where water ne'er sprung, nor a drop of rain fall. (bis)
W:
W:Tell her to dry it on yonder thorn,
W:Which blossom ne'er grew sin' Adam was born. (bis)
W:
W:And now I have answered your questions three,
W:And I hope you'll answer as many for me (bis)
W:And then thou shalt be a true lover of mine.

X:21
T:Scarborough Fair
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Sharp MSS., 2868/. Sung by Richard Hutton (65), Goathland, July 14, 1913.
N:Child 2
N:I can't fit the words to this tune sensibly, so I've left it as printed.
N:The letter S is a short phrase mark and indicates the position of the
N:end of the line of the lyrics.
G:B
M:6/8
K:GDor % inflected 7th
D | GAG FGA | BcB A2 S D |
"a"G2 A BAG | GBc d2 S G | d2 d edc |
dGG FG S A | BcB "b"AAG | DE^F G2 |]
"a"G2 G G2 B | cBc d2 || "b"AAF ||
W:
W:Where are you going to Scarboro Fair
W:Parsley Sage Rosemary and thyme,
W:Remember me to a bonny lass there
W:For once she was a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Tell her to make me a cambric shirt,
W:Without either needle or thread worked in it
W:And tell her to wash it in yonder spring
W:Where water never sprung nor a drop ran through.

X:22
T:Whittingham Fair
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Bruce and Stokoe, 1882, pp. 79-80.
N:Child 2
G:B
M:6/8
K:Gm % a AE
G2 G Bcd | cdB A3 | GAG Bcd |
w:Are you go-ing to Whitt-ing-ham fair, Pars_ley, sage_ rose-
dec d2 g | g2 d dcB | cdf AG F | G2 G Bcd | cAB G3 |]
w: ma-ry, and thyme_ Re-mem-ber me to one who lives there* For once she was a true love_ of mine.
W:
W:Are you going to Whittingham fair,
W:Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme;
W:Remember me to one who lives there,
W:For once she (he) was a true love of mine.
W:
W:Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
W:Without any seam or needlework
W:
W:Tell her to wash it in yonder well
W:Where never spring water nor rain ever fell
W:
W:Tell her to dry it on yonder thorn
W:Which never bore blossom since Adam was born
W:
W:Now he has asked me questions three
W:I hope he will answer as many for me
W:
W:Tell him to find me an acre of land
W:Betwixt the salt water and the sea sand
W:
W:Tell him to plough it with a ram's horn
W:And sow it all over with one peppercorn
W:
W:Tell him to reap it with a sickle of leather
W:And bind it up with a peacock's feather
W:
W:When he has done and finished his work
W:O tell him to come and he'll have his shirt.

X:23
T:Strawberry Lane
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Kittredge, JAF, XXX (1917), pp. 284-85. Also in Barry,
O:Eckstorm, and Smyth, 1929, p. 10. Sung by Mr. E. R.
O:Davis, 1914, as remembered from his grandfather, William
O:Henry Banks (born 1834) of Maine.
N:Child 2
N:I've added the word (where) at the end of the first line to
N:make the words fit.
G:B
M:6/8
K:Am % Hexatonic ( -2) Aeolian/Phrygian. Bronson has this as Dm Dor/Aeo
A | Adc AGF | Adc A2 G |
w:As I was a-walk-ing up Straw-ber-ry Lane, (Where)
FAc d2 e | dcA A z F | A2 A/A/ AGF |
w:Ev-e-ry rose grows mer-ry and fine, I chanced for to meet* a
GFD F2 G | A2 A/A/ cAF | GFE D2 |]
w:pret-ty fair maid, Who said she would be a true lov-er of mine.
W:
W:As I was a-walking up Strawberry Lane,-
W:Every rose grows merry and fine,-
W:I chanced for to meet a pretty, fair maid,
W:Who said she would be* a true-lover of mine.
W:
W:"You'll have for to make me a cambric shirt
W:Every rose grows merry and fine,-
W:And every stitch must be finicle work
W:Before you can be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"You'll have for to wash it i9n a deep well
W:Where water never was, nor rain ever fell.
W:
W:(The man goes on to make several more conditions.
W: Finally the girl turns on him thus:)
W:
W:"Now since you have been so hard with me,
W:Perhaps I can be as hard with thee.
W:
W:"You'll have for to buy me an acre of ground
W:(...line missing...)
W:
W:"You'll have for to plough it with a deer's horn,
W:And plant it all over with one grain of corn.
W:
W:"You'll have for to thrash it in an eggshell
W:And bring it to market in a thimble.**
W:
W:
W:* or "Wanted to be"
W:** or "And take it to market where man never dwelled"

X:24
T:Go and make me a cambric shirt
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Treat, JAF, LII (1939), pp. 15-16. Sung by Pearl Jacobs
O:Borusky and Maud Jacobs, Bryant, Wisc., September 11,
O:1938; learned in Kentucky.
N:Child 2
G:B
M:6/8
K:Dm % Hexatonic ( -6) Dorian/Aeolian
c2 c AGA | c2 c A2 G | Add dcd |
w:Go and make me a cam-bric shirt, With-out an-y need-le or
edc/c/ d3 | AcA AGF | GFD F3 | AcA AGF | GFC D3 |]
w:an-y need-le work. Then you can be that true lov-er of mine, Then you can be that true lov-er of mine.
W:
W:Go and make me a cambric shirt
W:Without any needle or any needle work.
W:Then you can be that true lover of mine,
W:Then you can be that true lover of mine.
W:
W:Go and wash it in yonders stream
W: (... missing line ...)
W:
W:Go and hang it on yonders thorn
W:That hasn't born leaves since Adam was born.

X:25
T:The Six Questions
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Barry MSS., I, vn. E; also transcribed in IV, No. 123.
O:Sung by O. F. A. Conner.
H:The original notation as sent by the singer is musically
illiterate. The timing here is highly conjectural.
N:Child 2
G:B
M:6/8
K:Dm % Hexatonic ( -6) Dorian/Aeolian
ID2 | GGG GG A | IF2 E D3 |
w:I want you to make me a cam-bric Shirt,
d2 e If2 d | dcA c2 Ic | If2 d/d/ dcA/A/ |
w:Eve-ry Rose grows mer-ry in time, With-out an-y seam or any
GFG IF2 G | AAA cIA>G | F<D D D2 |]
w:need-*le work, And then you can be a true lov-er of mine.
% Bar 2 variation | GGG G2 A |
W:
W:I want you to make me a cambric Shirt
W:Every Rose grows merry in time
W:Without any seam or any needle work
W:And then you can be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:I want you to wash it in yonder well,
W:Where there never was water nor never none fell.
W:
W:I want you to dry it on yonder thorn
W:Where there never was a thorn since Adam was born.
W:
W:Questions you have asked me three
W:I hope you can answer as many for me.
W:
W:I want you to plough me an acre of land
W:Between the salt water and the sea sand.
W:
W:I want you to plough it with a ram's horn
W:And sow it all over with one grain of corn.
W:
W:I want you toreap it with a Pea Fowel's (sic) feather
W:And thrash it all out with the sting of an arrow.
W:
W:And when you are done and completed your work
W:Then come to me and you shall have your shirt.

X:26
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Barry, JAF, XVIII (1905), p.213; text, pp. 50-51. Sung by
O:Mrs S.A. Flint, Providence, R.I., 1904.
H:According to Barry (p. 213), Mrs Flint learned this song from
a man born about 1800. The tune seems to shift from an anchorage
on G to one on F, after the mid cadence; that is, from Dorian to
F major. Something has probably gone amiss. Cf Joyce's tune
immediately following.
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Gdor % Inflected 7th
D | DGG GAG | FEF D3 |
w:I want you to make me a cam_bric shirt
DGG G2 ^F | GAB c2 A | GGG GAB |
w:Pars-ely and sage, rose-ma-ry and thyme, With-out an-y need_le
AGF E2 F | GGG ccc | BAG F2 |]
w:or any fine work, And then you shall be a true lov-er of mine.
W:
W:I want you to make me a cambric shirt
W:Parsely and sage, rosemary and thyme,
W:Without any needle or any fine work,
W:And then you shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Go wash it out in yonder well
W:Where there's never no water nor drop of rain fell.
W:
W:Go hang it out on yonder thorn
W:Where there's never no blossom since Adam was born.
W:
W:Now, since you have asked me questions three
W:I pray you would grant me the same liberty.
W:
W:I want you to buy me an acre of land
W:Between the salt water and the sea sand.
W:
W:Go plough it all up with one cuckold's horn
W:Go sow it all down with one pepper corn.
W:
W:Go reap it all up with a sickle of leather
W:And bind it all up with one cock's feather.

X:27
T:Then you shall be a true lover of mine
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Joyce, 1909, No. 117, pp. 59-60. Learned in childhood from
O:Biddy Hickey
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Ddor
Add d2 e | fed A2 G |
w:Choose when you can an ac-re of land As
Add efd | cde d3 | dAG F3/G/A/B/ |
w:ev-e-ry plant_ grows mer-ry in time Be-tween the salt wat_er
cAG A2 f/e/ | dAG F2 G | edd d3 |
w:and the sea strand And then you shall be a true lov-er of mine
W:
W:Choose when you can an acre of land-
W:As every plant grows merry in time-
W:Between the salt water and the sea strand,
W:And then you shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Plough it up with an old ram's horn
W:Sow it all over with one grain of corn.

X:28
T:Every Rose is bonny in time
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Houston, JIFSS, VIII (1910), p. 17. From Coleraine, Ulster.
N:The original is given in bars of 12/8 (two), 6/8 (two) and 12/8 (three).
N:The last line of text would seem to have been repeated.
N:(Not at all sure that the lyrics are correctly aligned here)
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G
G | GAG GDD | GAG G3 |
w:As I_ went ov_er Bon-ny Moor Hill
G2 d d2 d | BAG G2 G | ABc ccc |
w:Eve-ry rose grows bon-ny in time I met a wee lass and they
BAG G2 G/G/ | ABc BAG |[M:9/8] AFD D3 GGG |
w:Ca'-ed her Nell; She was long-ing to be a sweet lov-er of mine. She was long-
[M:6/8] ABc BAG |[M:9/8] AFD D3-D3 |[M:6/8] D3-D |]
w:ing to be a sweet_ lov_er of* mine.
W:
W:As I went over Bonny Moor Hill
W:Every rose grows bonny in time
W:I met a wee lass and they Ca'ed her Nell;
W:She was longing to be a sweet lover of mine.
W:
W:It's questions three I'll ask of thee
W:Every rose grows bonny in time
W:And it's questions three you must answer me
W:Before you're a sweet lover of mine.
W:
W:You must get unto me a cambric shirt
W:Without one stitch of your needlework.
W:
W:You must wash it in yonder well
W:Where water ne'er wet and rain never fell.
W:
W:You must bleach it on yonder green
W:Where flowers ne'er blossomed nor grass seen.
W:
W:You must dry it on yonder thorn springs
W:Where it ne'er budded since Adam was born.
W:
W:It is questions three you have asked of me
W:And it's questions three you must answer me.
W:
W:You must get unto me an acre of land
W:Betwixt the salt sea and the sea water strand.
W:
W:You must plough it with Adam's horn
W:And then sow it over with one hub of corn.
W:
W:You must shear it with one peacock's feather
W:And then bind it up in the song of another.
W:
W:You must stock it on yonder sea
W:And bring the shell sheaf dry unto me.
W:
W:It is when you have done and finished your work
W:Every rose grows bonny in time
W:You may call unto me for your cambric shirt
W:A then I will be a sweet lover of thine.

X:29
T:Scarborough Fair
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Kidson, 1891, p.172. Sung by A.Wardill, Goathland.
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G
D | GGG c2 B | AGE D2 z |
w:O where are you going? To Scar-bor-ough Fair!
d2 B BAG | cde A2 d | d2 c BAB |
w:Rue, par-se-ley, rose-ma-ry and thyme Re-mem-ber me to a
EEF GF D | G2 G cBB | AGE D2 |]
w:lass who lived there_ For once she was a true lov-er of mine
W:
W:O where are you going? To Scarborough Fair!
W:Rue, parseley, rosemary and thyme
W:Remember me to a lass who lived there
W:For once she was a true lover of mine

X:30
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Sharp MSS., 3908/2847. Also in Sharp and Karpeles, 1932
O:I, p.1. Sung by Mrs Cis Jones, Manchester, Ky., August 24, 1917.
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Gmix %Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
D | BdB AGE | GGE D3 |
w:Go tell him to clear me one ac-re of ground,
B,DD D2 D | EGG A2 G | BdB AGG |
w:Seth-er wood, sale, rose-ma-ry and thyme, Be-twixt the sea and the sea-
AGE D2 D | E2 G ABA | GGE D2 |]
w:--land side, And then he'll be a true lov-er of mine.
W:
W:Go tell him to clear me one acre of ground,
W:Sether wood, sale, rosemary and thyme,
W:Betwixt the sea and the sea-land side,
W:And then he'll be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Tell him to plough it all up with an old leather plough,
W:And hoe it all over with a pea-fowl's feather,
W:
W:Go tell him to plant it all over with one grain of co
W:And reap it all down with an old ram's horn,
W:
W:Go tell him to shock it in yonder sea,
W:(Betwixt the sea and the sea-land side)
W:And return it back to me all dry,
W:
W:Go tell her to make me a cambric shirt,
W:Without any needle or needle's work,
W:
W:Go tell her to wash it in yonders well,
W:Where rain nor water never fell,
W:
W:Go tell her to hang it on yonders thorn,
W:Where man nor thorn was never seen born,

X:31
T:The Sea Side; or The Elfin Knight
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Broadwood, JFSS, III (1907), p.12. Sung by Bridget Geary
O:at Camphire Cappoquin, County Waterford, Ireland, August 1906.
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:C %Hexatonic ( -7) Ionian/Mixolydian
"(a)"E/F/ | Gcc c2 d | cGF G2 z |
w:As* I* roved out (down) by the sea side,
"(b)"G<cd e2 c/d/ | c<GG/F/ G z e/d/ | c>EE/E/ F z E/F/ |
w:Ev-ry* rose grows* mer-ry in* time I* met a litt-le girl, And I
G>AG F z E/F/ | G>FG AGF | G<ED IC2 |]
w:gave her my hand, And I says, "Will you be a true lov-er of mine?
%alternate bars
%"(a)"F | G2 c c2 d ||"(b)"c2 d e2 d | cGF G z e/d/ ||
W:
W:As I roved out by the sea side,
W:(Ev'ry rose grows merry in time),
W:I met a little girl,
W:And I gave her my hand,
W:And I says, "Will you be a true lover of mine?
W:
W:If you are to be a true lover of mine
W:(Ev'ery rose grows merry in time),
W:You must make me a shirt without needle or seam,
W:And it's then you will be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:You must wash it in a spring well,
W:(Every rose grows merry in time),
W:Where the water never ran or the rain never fell,
W:And it's then you will be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:You must dry it in a hawthorn tree,
W:(Every rose grows merry in time),
W:That never was blossomed since Adam was born,
W:And then you will be a true lover of mine."
W:
W:"Now, Sir, you have questioned me three times three,
W:(Every rose grows merry in time),
W:But I might question as many as thee,
W:And it's then you will be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:You must get me a farm of the best land
W:(Every rose grows merry in time),
W:Between the salt water and the sea strand,
W:And it's then you will be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:You must plough it with a goat's horn,
W:(Every rose grows merry in time),
W:And sow it all over with one grain of corn,
W:And it's then you will be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:You must thrash it in a sparrow's nest,
W:(Every rose grows merry in time),
W:And shake it all out with a cobbler's awl,
W:And it's then you will be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:And when you are done, and finished your work
W:(Every rose grows merry in time),
W:You can come back to me, and I'll give you your shirt,
W:And it's then you will be a true lover of mine!"

X:32
T:A True Lover of Mine
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Barbeau, Lismer, and Bourinot, 1947, p. 33. Also in Fowke
O:and Johnston, 1954, pp. 138-39. From Hazleton, British Columbia, 1920
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G
z2 z | GBc c2 d| BAA ABA |
w:Pray, can you buy me an a-*cre or-
G2 GeBd | g2 f ede | d2 d def |
w:more, Sav-*o-ry, sage, rose-ma-ry and thyme, Bet-ween the wide
g2 B cde | d2 G BcB | dBB AGA | G3 |]
w:oc-ean and the sea shore, And then can you be a true lov-er of mine.
W:
W:Pray, can you buy me an acre or more,
W:Savory, sage, rosemary and thyme,
W:Between the wide ocean and the sea shore,
W:And then can you be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Pray, can you plough it with one ram's horn, . . .
W:And sow it all over with one pepper corn? . . .
W:
W:Pray, can you reap it with a sickle of leather, . . .
W:And tie it all up with one peacock's feather? . . .
W:
W:ÑNow, you have asked me of these questions three . . .
W:It is my turn to ask three of thee . . .
W:
W:Pray, can you make me a fine cambric shirt . . .
W:Without any seam and all needle work? . . .
W:
W:Pray, in your brook, can you wash it and wade . . .
W:Where water ne'er flowed since earth it was made? . . .
W:
W:Pray, can you dry it on yonder sweet thorn . . .
W:Where blossoms ne'er bloomed since Adam was born? . . .

X:33
T:The Tasks
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Baring-Gould MSS., CXXVIII(I); text, (B) coinciding with (A)
O:except in the concluding stanzas. Sung by John Hext, Post Bridge
O:October 1890. Noted by F.W. Bussell.
H:This form, almost identical, appears in Baring-Gould, Sheppard and
Bussell, Songs of the West, ed. 1905, p.96, as from P. Symonds, Jacobstow,
John Hext, and James Dyer of Mawgan.
The original copy is in straight 6/8 time throughout.
N:Child 2
M:9/8
L:1/8
K:C % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
G3 GEG | c3 G2 G A2 A |
w:Thou must buy me my lady, a camb-rick
G3 z2 G GEG | c3 G2 G AAA | G2 E EEE EEE |
w:shirt Whilst eve-ry grove rings with a mer-ry an-tine And stitch it with-out an- y
[M:6/8] E2 D C2 "(a)"C |[M:9/8] G2 G GGC GGD | C3 |]
w:need-le work O~and then thou shalt be a true love of mine.
%alternate:
%"(a)"c | [M:9/8] E2 F FFC EED | C3 |]
W:
W:Thou must buy me my lady, a cambrick shirt
W:Whilst every grove rings with a merry antine..
W:And stitch it without any needle work
W:O and then thou shalt be a true love of mine.
W:
W:And thou must wash it in yonder well,
W:Whilst every grove &c.
W:Where never a drop of water in fell,
W:O and then, &c.
W:
W:And thou must hang it upon a white thorn,
W:Whilst every, &c.
W:That never has blossomed since Adam was born,
W:O and then, &c.
W:
W:And when that these tasks are finished & done
W:Whilst every, &c.
W:I'll take thee & marry thee under the sun
W:O and then, &c.
W:
W:Or ever I do these two and three
W:Whilst every, &c.
W:I will set of tasks as many to thee
W:O and then shall I be a true love of thine.
W:
W:Thou must buy for me an acre of land
W:Whilst every, &c.
W:Between the salt ocean & the yellow sand,
W:O and then, &c.
W:
W:Thou must plough it o'er with a horse's horn
W:Whilst every, &c.
W:And sow it over with one pepper corn
W:O and then, &c
W:
W:O tell her to bleach it on yonder grass
W:Whilst every, &c.
W:Where never a foot or a hoof did pass
W:[O] and then, &c.
W:
W:O tell him to thrash it in yonder barn
W:Whilst every, &c.
W:That hangs to the sky by a thread of yarn,
W:&c.

X:35
T:Strawberry Lane
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Vincent, [1932] p. 19.
N:The yodelling "burden" attached to the tune has been omitted
N:as irrelevant to our concern with tradition.
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:C
B | BBB GGG | AGE D3 |
w:One day I was walk-ing in Straw-ber-ry Lane,
B2 B d2 d | BAG A2 A | BBB GGG |
w:Ev'-ry rose grows mer-ry and fine And there quite by chance a fair
AGE D2 D | EGc BAG | A2 G G2 |]
w:maid-en I met, Who said she would be a true love of mine.
W:
W:One day I was walking in Strawberry Lane, Ev'ry rose grows merry and fine
W:And there quite by chance a fair maiden I met, Who said she would be a true love of mine.
W:De yodel layee de O leeoo layee de Ay leeoo layee de layee de layee.
W:
W:You'll have for to make me a spiderweb shirt, Ev'ry rose grows, merry and fine
W:And every stitch must be finicle work, Before you can be a true love of mine.
W:De yodel layee de O leeoo layee de Ay lecoo layee de layeede layee.
W:
W:You'll have for to wash it down deep in a well, Every rose grows merry and fine
W:Where never was water and rain never fell, Before you can be a true love of mine.
W:De yodel layee etc.
W:
W:Then up spoke the maid, "Since you're so hard with me, Every rose grows merry and fine
W:Perhaps I can be even harder with thee, Before you can be a true love of mine.
W:De yodel layee etc.
W:
W:You'll have for to buy me ten acres of ground, Every rose grows merry and fine
W:With never a bush nor a rock to be found, Before you can be a true love of mine.
W:De yodel layee etc.
W:
W:You'll have for to plow it all with a deer's horn, Every rose grows merry and fine
W:And plant it all over with one grain of corn, Before you can be a true love of mine.
W:De yodel layee etc.
W:
W:You'll have for to thrash it all in an egg shell, Every rose grows merry and fine
W:And bring it to market where man never dwell. Before you can be a true love of mine.
W:De yodel layee etc.

X:36
T:The Lover's Tasks
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Sharp MSS., 763/826. Also in Sharp and Marson, 3rd series,
O:1906, pp. 26-27. Sung by William Huxtable, Rowbarton, Taunton,
O:January 15, 1906.
H:The variants are from the singing of Bessie Huxtable, at Minehead,
January l2, 1906. She sang the first refrain line as "O yes, she said,
Sweet William and time."
This form of the tune is sung by Clive Carey, on a phonograpb
record (English Columbia, rec. WA 10685 [DB 335]).
Pope's text appears to be assigned in Sharp's MS. to Bessie
Huxtable's and William Huxtable's tune, above. But Pope's name may
inadvertently have been written for W. Huxtable's, since Pope
belonged to Alcombe, Dunster. Sharp usually tidied up the texts he printed.
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:C
G | GAB ccc | GAB c2 "(a)"c |
w:(O) Say can you make me a cam-*bric shirt Sing
GAB c2 c | "(b)"GFE G2 E | EEE EDC |
w:Iv-*y Leaf, Sweet Will-iam and Thyme, With-out an-y need-le or
"(c)"E2 F GA B | c2 c GGG | FED C2 G ||
w:need-le work?* And you shall be a true lov-er of mine.
GAB c2 c | GAB c3 | GAB c2 c | GAE G2 E |
w:Yes, if you wash it in yon-der well Sing Iv-y Leaf, Sweet Will-iam and Thyme, Where
EEE EDC | EFF GA B | ccc GGG | FED C3 |]
w:nei-ther springs wat-er, nor rain ev-er fell,* And you* shall be a true lov-er of mine.
%Variants
%"(a)"G ||"(b)"AAG ||"(c)"E2 G C2 ||
W:
W:Say can you make me a cambric shirt
W:Sing Ivy Leaf, Sweet William and Thyme,
W:Without any needle or needle work?
W:And you shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Yes, if you wash it in yonder well
W:Sing Ivy Leaf, Sweet William and Thyme,
W:Where neither springs water, nor rain ever fell,
W:And you shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Say can you plough me an acre of land
W:Sing Ivy Leaf, Sweet William and Thyme,
W:Between the sea and the salt sea strand?
W:And you shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Yes, if you plough it with one ram's horn
W:Sing Ivy Leaf, Sweet William and Thyme,
W:And sow it all over with one pepper corn,
W:And you shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Say can you reap with a sickle of leather
W:Sing Ivy Leaf, Sweet William and Thyme,
W:And tie it all up with a Tom-tit's feather?
W:And you shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Yes if you gather it all in a sack,
W:Sing Ivy Leaf, Sweet William and Thyme,
W:And carry it home on a butterfly's back,
W:And you shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Sung by Robert Pope, at Rowbarton, Taunton, January I5,
W:1906:
W:
W:Say can you make me a cambric shirt
W:O yes she said Sweet William and time
W:Without any needle or needle work
W:And then you shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Wash it all up in yonder wink
W:Water will never foddle na never know spring.
W:
W:Hang it all out on yonder thorn
W:Which never bear leaves since Adam was born.
W:
W:Can you plough me an acre of land
W:Between the sea and the sea sand.
W:
W:Plough it all over with a ram's horn
W:And sow it all over with one peppercorn.
W:
W:Cut it all down with one strap of leather
W:And tie it all up in a tom tit's feather.
W:
W:Put it all in to the bottom of sacks
W:And carry it all home on a butterfly's back.
W:
W:Put it all in to a little mouse's hole
W:Thrash it all out with a cobbler's awl.

X:37
T:The Lover's Tasks
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Sharp MSS., 3996/. Sung by Francis Carter, Proctor, Beattyville,
O:Ky., September 8, I9I7.
H:Sharp MS. note: "The tune imperfectly remembered by the
singer." Variant reading (a) suggests confusion with "Lilliburlero."
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:C
E |G2 G ccE | GGG c2 E |
w:If you will buy me an ac-re of land be-
GGG G2 E | GFD C3 |"(a)"G2 G c2 E |
w:tween the salt sea_ and the sea sand Eve-ry grave grows
GGG c2 E | C2 D EEE | DCD C3 |
w:mer-ry by time and you shall be a true lov-er of mine.
%"(a)"CCC E2 E | DDD F2 F | E2 E G2 E | DCD C2 |]
W:
W:If you will buy me an acre of land between the salt sea and
W:the sea sand.
W:Every grave grows merry by time and you shall be a true
W:lover of mine.

X:38
T:A True Lover of Mine
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Gardner and Chickering, I939, pp. I37-38. Sung by Otis
O:Evilsizer, Alger, Mich., I935.
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:C
C | CEG GGG | FED C2 c | c2 c e2 c |
w:As I went out walk-ing one morn-ing in May, May ev'-ry rose bloom
cEE G3 | Hc3 F3 | GGG GCC |
w:mer-ry in time, Oh, I met a fair dam-sel and
FFF FA A | AGG GGG | GB,B, C2 c |
w:to her did say,* I want you to be a true lov-er of mine. May
c2 c e2 c | cEE G3 | Hc3 F3 |
w:ev'-ry rose bloom mer-ry in time, Oh, I
GGG GGG | GB,B, C2 |]
w:want you to be a true lov-er of mine.
W:
W:As I went out walking one morning in May,
W:May ev'ry rose bloom merry in time,
W:Oh, I met a fair damsel and to her did say,
W:"I want you to be a true lover of mine.
W:May ev'ry rose bloom merry in time,
W:Oh, I want you to be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"I want you to bring me a new cambric shirt,
W:May ev'ry rose bloom merry in time,
W:That's made without seam or needle work,
W:And then you shall be a true lover of mine.
W:May ev'ry rose bloom merry in time,
W:And then you shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:(The second, fourth, {fith, and sixth lines of stanza
W:2 are repeated in each of the following stanzas.)
W:
W:"I want you to wash it in yonder well,
W:Where water ne'er flew nor dew never fell.
W:
W:"I want you to hang it on yonder thorn,
W:Where leaves never grew since Adam was born."
W:
W:" 'Tis three requests you've asked of me,
W:May now I ask the same of thee?
W:
W:"I want you to buy me ten acres of land,
W:Between the salt waters and the sea sand.
W:
W:"I want you to plow it with an old sheep's horn,
W:Then plant it all over with one grain of corn.
W:
W:"I want you to reap it with a sickle of leather,
W:Then tie it all up with a peacock feather.
W:
W:"Now when you think you've finished your work,
W:Just come unto me and you shall have your shirt."

X:39
T:Rosemary and Thyme
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Eddy, 1939, pp. 3-4. Sung by Annie Byers, Perrysville,
O:Ohio; learned from relatives.
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G % Hexatonic ( -4) Lydian/Ionian
d | def g2 e | d2 B G3 | g3 def |
w:(O) When you go down to yon-der town, Rose-ma-ry and
g3-g2 D | G2 G B2 A | G2 E G2 G | G2 e dBG | ABA G2 |]
w:thyme,* Send my res-pects to that young man, And he shall be a true lov-er of mine.
W:
W:"When you go down to yonder town,
W:Rosemary and thyme,
W:Send my respects to that young man,
W:And he shall be a true lover of mine."
W:
W:She
W:
W:"Go tell him to buy six acres of land
W:Between salt water and sea sand.
W:
W:"Go tell him to plant ten acres of corn
W:And harrow it with a mooley cow's horn.
W:
W:"Go tell him to cut it with a sickle of leather,
W:And haul it in with a pea fowl's feather.
W:
W:"Go tell him to thresh it against the wall,
W:And do not let one grain of it fall.
W:
W:"Go tell him to take it to yonder mill,
W:And each kernel of corn shall one bag fill.
W:
W:"Go tell him that when his work is done
W:To come to me with the kernel of corn."
W:
W:He
W:
W:"When you go down to yonder town,
W:Rosemary and thyme,
W:Send my respects to that young maid,
W:And she shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"Go tell her to make me a cambric shirt
W:Without one stitch of needle work.
W:
W:"Go tell her to wash it in yonder well
W:Where water never rose and rain never fell.
W:
W:"Go tell her that when she has done her work,
W:To come to me with that cambric shirt."

X:40
T:The Cambric Shirt
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Randolph, I, I946, pp. 38(A)-3g. Sung by Wiley Hemb
O:Farmington, Ark., December 29, I94I; learned from
O:father in I896.
N:Child 2
M:2/2
L:1/8
K:G % Pentatonic ( -2 -4) irregular
d2 ef g3 g | d2 B2 d4 |
w:As you* go through Yand-ro's town,
e4 ef g2 | g4 z2 G2 | GB d2 d3 d |
w:Rozz-mar-row and time, Take my* add-ress to
d2 ed BB B2 | BB e2 ed B2 | dd B2 G4 |]
w:this young* la-dy And tell her to be a true lov-er of mine.
W:
W:As you go through Yandro's town,
W:Rozz-marrow and time,
W:Take my address to this young lady
W:And tell her to be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Go tell her to make me a cambric shirt,
W:Rozz-marrow and time,
W:Without one stitch of a seamster's work
W:And then she can be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Go tell her to wash it in a dry well,
W:Rozz-marrow and time,
W:Where water never was nor rain never fell
W:And then she can be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Go tell her to dry it on a thorn,
W:Rozz-marrow and time,
W:Where a leaf never budded since Adam was born
W:And then she can be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Oh it's as you go through Yandro's town,
W:Rozz-marrow and time,
W:Take my address to this young man
W:And tell him to be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Go tell him to clear me one acre of land,
W:Rozz-marrow and time,
W:Between the salt sea and the sea sand
W:And then he can be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Go tell him to plough it with a muley-cow's horn,
W:Rozz-marrow and time,
W:And plant it all over with one grain of corn,
W:And then he can be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Go tell him to reap it with an old stirrup-leather'
W:Rozz-marrow and time,
W:And bind it all up in a peafowl's feather
W:And then he can be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Go tell him to thresh it against the wall,
W:Rozz-marrow and time,
W:And not one grain on the floor shall fall
W:And then he can be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Go tell him to take it to the mill,
W:Rozz-marrow and time,
W:And every grain its bushel shall fill,
W:And then he can be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Go tell this young man when he gets his work done,
W:Rozz-marrow and time,
W:To come to my house and his shirt'll be done,
W:And then he can be a true lover of mine.

X:41
T:Rose de Marian Time
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Brown MS. 16 a 12. Partial text, North Carolina Folklore, II,
O:1952, p. I4(B). Sung by Mrs. [Fannie] Norton, Norton, N.C.
H:Richard Chase, Old Songs end Singing Games, 1938, p. I8, gives
the same tune as from this singer, with a different, composite text.
It is also included, from Chase's singing, in the Winston Wilkinson
MSS., 1935-35, pp. T-2, with four more stanzas than the four below.
N:Child 2
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:C % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
c2 c2 c2 G2 | A2 E2 G4 |
w:As you go through yon-der town
A3 G A2 c2 | c6 z2 | C2 C2 C3 D |
w:Rose de Mar-ian Time! Take this dress to
E2 G2 EE E2 | CC A2 GG G2 | EE D2 C4 |]
w:that young la-dy And tell her she is a true lov-er of mine.
W:
W:As you go through yonder town
W:Rose de Marian Time!
W:Take this dress to that young lady
W:And tell her she is a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
W:Rose de Marian Time!
W:Without any seam or seamstress work
W:Then she'll be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Tell her to wash it in a dry well
W:Rose de Marian Time!
W:Where water never was nor rain never fell
W:Then she'll be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Tell her to dry it on a thorn
W:Rose de Marian Time!
W:Where leaf never was since Adam was born
W:Then she'll be a true lover of mine.

X:42
T:Save Rosemary and Thyme
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Morris, 1950, pp. 235-36. Sung by Mrs. G. A. GriTEin, Newberry,
O:Fla.; learned from her father.
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:C % Hexatonic (-6)
C | EEC GGG | FED C3 |
w:Go tell her to make me a cam-*bric shirt
E2 C EEF | G3-G2 G | Gcc DDD |
w:Save rose-ma-ry and thyme,* With-out an-y need-le or
B2 B D2 C | E2 C GGG | ECD C2 |]
w:seam-ster's work, And she shall be a true lov-er of mine.
W:
W:Go tell her to make me a cambric shirt,
W:Save rosemary and thyme,
W:Without any needle or seamster's work,
W:And she shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Go tell her to wash it all in a dry well,
W:Save rosemary and thyme,
W:Where water never sprung, or rain never fell,
W:And she shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Go tell her to hang it out on a thorn bush,
W:Save rosemary and thyme,
W:A bush that never growed since Old Adam was born,
W:And she shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Go tell her to iron it against the house back,
W:Save rosemary and thyme,
W:Without looking down or letting it get black,
W:And she shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Go tell him to get him an acre of ground,
W:Save rosemary and thyme,
W:Betwixt the sea water and the sea sand,
W:And he shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Go tell him to plant it in little grain corn,
W:Save rosemary and thyme,
W:Tell him to plough it in with a horse's horn,
W:And he shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Go tell him to reap it with a shickle of leather,
W:Save rosemary and thyme,
W:Tell him to haul it home on a peafowl's feather,
W:And he shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Go tell him to thresh it against the house wall,
W:Save rosemary and thyme,
W:Without looking down or letting a grain fall,
W:And he shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Go tell him when he gets all this work done,
W:Save rosemary and thyme,
W:Tell him to come to me for his cambric shirt,
W:And he shall be a true lover of mine.

X:43
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Eddy, 1939, pp. 4-5. Sung by Mary E. Lux, Canton, Ohio;
O:learned from family tradition.
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -6 -7) irregular
G | G2 G B2 A | G2 D G3 | d3 dcB |
w:As you go down to yon-der town, Rose Ma-ry in
d3-d3 | GGG B2 A | G2 D GG A |
w:time,* Give my res-pects to that young la-dy, And
Bdd dcB | BcB B2 G | G2 G B2 A |
w:tell her she is a true lov-er of mine, Give my res-pects to
G2 D GG A | Bdd dcB | ABA G2 |]
w:that young la-dy, And tell her she is a true lov-er of mine.
W:
W:"As you go down to yonder town,
W:Rose Mary in time,
W:Give my respects to that young lady,
W:And tell her she is a true lover of mine."
W:(Repeat the last two lines.)
W:
W:He
W:
W:"Go tell her to buy me a cambric shirt,
W:Rose Mary in time,
W:Without cither seam or needle work,
W:And then she shall be a true lover of mine."
W:
W:She
W:
W:"As you go down to yonder town,
W:Rose Mary in time,
W:Give my respects to that young man,
W:And tell him he is a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"Go tell him to buy me one acre of land,
W:Rose Mary in time,
W:Betwixt salt water and an acre of sand,
W:And then he shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"Go tell him to plow it with one big thorn,
W:Rose Mary in time,
W:Where never has blossomed since Adam was born,
W:And then he shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"Go tell him to plant it with one grain of wheat,
W:Rose Mary in time,
W:And cover it all over with one big sheet,
W:And then he shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"Go tell him to reap it with a sickle of leather,
W:Rose Mary in time,
W:And bind it all up with one humming-bird's feather,
W:And then he shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"Go tell him to thresh it against the wall,
W:Rose Mary in time,
W:And not for his life leave one grain fall,
W:And then he shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"Go tell him to take it to yonder mill,
W:Rose Mary in time,
W:And every grain one barrel to fill,
W:And then he shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"Go tell him that when he's through with his work,
W:Rose Mary in time,
W:To come to me for his cambric shirt,
W:And then he shall be a true lover of mine."

X:44
T:Scarborough Fair
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Carey, I9I5, pp. 20ff. Also, without accompaniment, in
O:Wells' I950, p. 17I-
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:C
d | BAB G3 | c2 A G G2 | ABc d2 d |
w:To Scar-bor-ough Fair are you go-ing? Pars-e-ley, sage, rose-
[M:9/8] edc d3-d2 d |[M:6/8] ded cBc | dGG EF G |
w:ma-ry and thyme,* Oh give* my love to a girl who lives there,* For
A2 A GGF | [M:9/8] DGF G3-G z G |:[M:6/8] GGG cBA |
w: once she was a true lov-er of mine.* Oh, tell her to make me a
w:***********Tell her to wash it in
B2 A G3 | ABc d2 d | [M:9/8] edc d3-d2 d | [M:6/8] ded cBc |
w:cam-bric shirt, Pars-e-ley, sage, rose-ma-ry and thyme,* With-out an-y need-le or
w:yon-der well Pars-e-ley, sage, rose-ma-ry and thyme,* Where nev-er spring wat-er nor
d d G EF G | A2 A GGF | [M:9/8] DGF HG4 :|
w:thread work-ed in it, And she shall be a true lov-er of mine.
w: rain ev-er fell.* And she shall be a true lov-er of mine.
W:
W:To Scarborough Fair are you going?
W: Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme,
W:Oh give my love to a girl who lives there,
W: For once she was a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Oh, tell her to make me a cambric shirt,
W: Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme,
W:Without any needle or thread worked in it,
W: And she shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Tell her to wash it in yonder well
W:Where never spring water nor rain ever fell.
W:
W:Tell her to hang it on yonder thorn
W:Which never bore blossom since Adam was born.
W:
W:And when she has answered these questions three,
W:If he can answer as many for me,
W: Then he shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:Tell him to find me an acre of land
W:Betwixt the salt water all on the sea sand.
W:
W:And tell him to plough it with a ram's horn
W:And all over sow it with one pepper corn.
W:
W:And tell him to CUt it with a sickle of leather,
W:And bind it all up in a peacock's feather.
W:
W:And when he has done and finished his work,
W:He can come unto me for his cambric shirt.

X:45
T:The Cambric Shirt
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Flanders, I934, pp. 58-59. Sung by H. Luce; learned from
O:E. A. Luce, Vermont. From A Garland of Green Mountain Song,
O:edited by Helen Hartness Flanders; copyright I934 by Helen
O:Hartness Flanders.
N:Child 2
M:9/8
L:1/8
K:C % Hexatonic ( -2) irregular
c3 cAc | [M:6/8] Gcc cAc | G3 cAc |
w:As I* walked out in a sha-*dy grove, Eve-*ry
G2 G GAB | [M:9/8] c3-c2 c C2 C | [M:6/8] G2 G AGF |
w:rose grows mer-ry in time* Twas there I spied a love-ly fair
F2 G A2 F | FAG ECE | [M:9/8] C3 |]
w:maid And once she was a true lov-er of mine.
W:
W:As I walked out in a shady grove,
W:Every rose grows merry in time,
W:Twas there I spied a lovely fair maid
W:And once she was a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"Say, will you make me a cambric shirt, etc.
W:Without any stitches or needlework
W:Then you shall oe a true lover of mine?
W:
W:"Say, will you wash it out in a dry well, etc.
W:Where water never stood nor rain never fell
W:Then you shall be a true lover of mine?
W:
W:"Say, will you hang it out on a green thorn, etc.
W:That never bore leaves since Adam was born
W:Then, etc." ~
W:
W:"Now you have asked me questions three, etc.
W:Then answer these questions for me.
W:Then, etc.
W:
W:"Say will you buy me an acre of land, etc.
W:Between the salt water and the sea sand
W:Then, etc.
W:
W:"Say will you plow it up with a hog's horn, etc.
W:And sow it all down with one peppercorn?
W:Then, etc.
W:
W:"Say will you harrow it with a scroll (scrawl), etc.
W:And reap it with a shoemaker's awl,
W:Then, etc.
W:
W:"Say will you draw it in on a shoe sole, etc.
W:And house it all up within a mouse hole?
W:Then, etc.
W:
W:"Say will you thresh it out with a goose quill, etc.
W:And winnow it up within an egg shell?
W:Then, etc.
W:
W:"And when you've done and finished your work, etc.
W:Then call upon me for your cambric shirt,
W:Then you shall be a true lover of mine."

X:46
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Newell, JAF, VII (I894), p. 228. Sung by Gertrude Decrow,
O:Boston, Mass.; from family tradition.
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:C
E | G2 G c2 d | ece c2 c |
w:As I walked out in yon-*der dell, Let
G2 G c2 d | ecd c2 G | AAA ABc |
w:ev'-ry rose grow mer-ry in time; I met a fair dam-*sel,
EAE GE C | EFG cEE | FDB, C2 |]
w:her name it was Nell; I said, "Will you be a true lov-er of mine?
W:
W:As I walked out in yonder dell,
W:Let ev'ry rose grow merry in time;
W:I met a fair damsel, her name it was Nell;
W:I said, "Will you be a true lover of mine?
W:
W:"I want you to make me a cambric shirt,
W:Let ev'ry rose grow merry in time;
W:Without any seam or needlework,
W:And thcn you shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"I want you to wash it on yonder hill,
W:Let ev'ry rose grow merry in time;
W:Where dew never was nor rain never fell,
W:And then you shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"I want you to dry it on yonder thorn,
W:Let ev'ry rose grow merry m time;
W:Where tree never blossomed since Adam was born,
W:And then you shall be a true lover of mine."
W:
W:"And since you have asked three questions of me,
W:Let ev'ry rose grow merry in time;
W:And now I will ask as many of thee,
W:And then I will be a true lover of thine.
W:
W:"I want you to buy me an acre of land,
W:Let ev'ry rose grow merry in time;
W:Between the salt sea and the sea sand
W:And then I will be a true lover of thine.
W:
W:"I want you to plough it with an ox's horn,
W:Let ev'ry rose grow merry in time;
W:And plant it all over with one kernel of corn,
W:And then I will be a true lover of thine.
W:
W:"I want you to hoe it with a peacock's feather,
W:Let ev'ry rose grow merry in time;
W:And thrash it all out with the sting of an adder,
W:And then I will be a true lover of thine."

X:47
T:The Cambric Shirt
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Flanders, and others, I939, pp. 8-IO. Sung by Amy Perkins;
O:learned from Emery R. Fisher, Rutland, Vt. Transcribed
O:by George Brown. From The New Green Mountain Songster,
O:edited by Helen Hartness Flanders, Elizabeth Flanders
O:Ballard, George Brown, and Phillips Barry; copyright I939
O:by Helen Hartness Flanders.
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
N:There are variant versions on stanzas 2, 4, and 5, and
N:stanza 12 is entirely different.
P:ABC ADC ABC AEC AFC (ABC)6 G (ABC)3 % playing order
K:Gmix % Hexatonic ( -7) Ionian/Mixolydian
[P:A] Id | ddd ddd | eBB d3 |
w:Oh, where are you go-ing? I'm go-ing to Lynn.
c2 B A2 A | BBB [P:B]|| G3 | B2 G B2 A/A/ |
w:Eve-ry globe goes mer-ry in time, Give my love to the
GBd [P:C]|| d2 d | eeg BGB | AGA G3 |]
w:la-dy with-in And tell her she's worth a true lov-er of mine.
[P:D] B3 | BGA B3 | d2 d [P:E] || G2 G | BGG B2 A | G2 B ||
w:time For to make me a fine time where wat-er ne'r stood nor rain ne-
[P:F] G3 | BGA B2 B | ddd [P:G] || Id | ddd d/d/dd | e2 B g3 |
w:time, One that had stood since Ad-am was Oh tell him to cart it on a cake of ice
c2 B A2 A | BBB G3 | B2 A BAA | G2 B d2 d | e2 d ccB | AGA G3 |]
w:Eve-ry globe goes mer-ry in time, Cart it in with a yoke of mice, And he shall be a true lov-er of mine.
W:
W:"Oh, where are you going?" "I'm going to Lynn."
W:Every globe goes merry in time,
W:"Give my love to the lady within
W:And tell her she's worth a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"Oh, tell her to buy her a yard of tow cloth,"
W:Every globe goes merry in time,
W:"For to make me a fine shirt,
W:And she shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"Oh, tell her to stitch it without any needle,"
W:Every globe goes merry in time.
W:"Stitch it and sew it without any seam,
W:And she shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"Oh, tell her to wash it in yonder dry well,"
W:Every globe goes merry in time,
W:"Where water ne'er stood nor rain ne'er fell,
W:And she shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"Oh, tell her to hang it on yonder high thorn,"
W:Every globe goes merry in time,
W:"One that had stood since Adam was born,
W:And she shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"Oh, tell her to iron it with a flat rock,"
W:Every globe goes merry in time,
W:"One that's ne'er cold and one that's ne'er hot,
W:And she shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"Oh, tell this young lady when she's finished her work,"
W:Every globe goes merry in time,
W:"Come to me and I'll give her a kiss,
W:And she shall be a true lover of mine."
W:
W:Answer
W:
W:"Oh, where are you going?" "I'm going to Cape Ann."
W:Every globe goes merry in time.
W:"Give my love to this same young man,
W:And tell him he's worthy this true love of mine.
W:
W:"Oh, tell him to buy him an acre of land,"
W:Every globe goes merry in time,
W:" 'Twixt the sea shore and the sea sand,
W:And he shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"Oh, tell him to plow it with an old horse's horn,"
W:Every globe goes merry in time,
W:"Sow it all over with one peppercorn,
W:And he shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"Oh, tell him to reap it with a sickle of leather,"
W:Every globe goes merry in time,
W:"Bind it up with a peacock's feather,
W:And he shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"Oh, tell him to cart it on a cake of ice,"
W:Every globe goes merry in time.
W:"Cart it in with a yoke of mice,
W:And he shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"Oh, tell him to stack it in yonder high barn,"
W:Every globe goes merry in time,
W:"One that ne'er stood since Adam was born,
W:And he shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"Oh, tell him to thresh it with his wooden leg,"
W:Every globe goes merry in time.
W:"Fan it up in the skin of an egg,
W:And he shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:"Oh, tell this young man when he's finished his work,"
W:Every globe goes merry in time,
W:"Come to me and I'll give him a kiss,
W:And he shall be a true lover of mine."

X:48
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Sharp MSS., 466I/3244. Also in Sharp and Karpeles, I932
O:I, p. 2. Sung by Mrs. Polly Mitchell, Burnsville, N.C.,
O:September 22, 19I8.
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
G | GAB GGG | Gdg e2 e |
w:I saw a young la-dy a-walk-ing all out, A
edB d2 B/B/ | BAB G2 G | GAB G2 G |
w:walk-ing all out in the yond-ers green field, So sav'-ry was said come
Gdg e2 e | (ed)B d>BB | BAB G2 |]
w:mar-ry in time, And she* shall be a true lov-er of mine.
W:
W:I saw a young lady a-walking all out,
W:A-walking all out in the yonders green field,
W:So sav'ry was said come marry in time,
W:And she shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:So tell that young lady to buy me a new cambric shirt
W:And make it without needles or yet needles' work.
W:So sav'ry, etc.
W:
W:So tell that young lady to wash it all out
W:And wash it all out in yonders well,
W:Where never was water nor rain never fell.
W:
W:So tell that young lady to deemens (sic) her work
W:And bring on my new cambric shirt.
W:
W:I saw a young man a-walking all out,
W:A-walking all out in the yonders green field,
W:So sav'ry was said come marry in time,
W:And he shall be a true lover of mine.
W:
W:So tell that young man to but [sic] me an acre of land,
W:Betwixt the sea and the sun.
W:So sav'ry, etc.
W:And he shall be, etc.
W:
W:So tell that young man to sow it all down,
W:And sow it all down in pepper and corn.
W:
W:So tell that young man to plough it all in,
W:And plough it all in with that little ram's horn.
W:
W:So tell that young man to haul it all in,
W:And haul it all in on a chee-chicken feather.
W:
W:So tell that young man to crib it all in,
W:And crib it all in a little mouse's hole.
W:
W:So tell that young man to thresh it all out,
W:And thrash it all out in the corner of the house,
W:On the peril of his life to not lose a grain.
W:
W:So tell that young man to deemens his work
W:For to bring on the pepper and corn.

X:49
T:True Lover of Mine
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Robertson, LC/AAFS, rec. 38I2 AI. Sung by George
O:Vinton Graham, San Jose, Calif., December 3, I938.
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Hexatonic ( -7) Ionian/Mixolydian
ccc AAA | B2 B G3 |
w:Where are you go-ing? to Cad-ri-an?
d3 d2 B | ABA A2 d | "(a)"G2 G B2 G |
w:Green grows the mer-ry an-tine And if you see that
ddB d2 d | e2 B ddB | ABA G3 |]
w:nice young* man I want him for a true lov-er of mine
"(a)"[M:8/8] GGG BBB GG | [M:6/8] ddB d2 |]
w:not for the life of her let one stitch of it burn
%There ar also variants given for bar 1 (2nd note is B)
%and for bar 3 (3rd note is G)
W:
W:Where are you going? to Cadrian?
W:Green grows the merry antine
W:And if you see that nice young man
W:I want him for a true lover of mine
W:
W:Tell him to plow me one acre of ground
W:Green grows the merry antine
W:And plant it all over with one grain of corn
W:And he shall be a true lover of mine
W:
W:Tell him to thrash it 'gainst yonders barn
W:Green grows the merry antine
W:That never was built since Adam was born
W:And he shall be a true lover of mine
W:
W:Tell her to make me one cambric shirt
W:Green grows the merry antine
W:And not for the life of her let one stitch of it be needlework
W:And she shall be a true lover of mine
W:
W:Tell her to iron it with a red-hot iron
W:Green grows the merry antine
W:And not for the life of her let one stitch of it burn
W:And she shall be a true lover of mine

Appendix B

X:50
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Greig and Keith, I925, p. 2(2). Sung by Rev. J. Calder,
O:Crimond, Aberdeenshire, I907.
H:This tune, as S. P. Bayard has observed, is that of "The Young
May Moon" (tune, "The Dany O'") in Thomas Moore's Irish
Melodies. The words are sung by Effie Deans in The Heart of Midlothian;
it is undetermined whether they are traditional or by Scott.
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G % Hexatonic ( -4) Lydian/Ionian (Bronson has it as I/M)
D | G2 D D2 D | E2 D D2 D |
w:The Elf-in Knight sat on the brae, The
G2 G GGG | B2 G G2 G | GBA AGF |
w:broom grows bon-nie, the broom grows fair, And by there cam' lilt-in' a
GFE D2 B,/D/ | DEG B,DD | E2 D D2 |]
w:la-dy so gay, And we daur-na gang doon to the broom nae mair.
W:
W:The Elfin Knight sat on the brae,
W:The broom grows bonnie, the broom grows fair,
W:And by there cam' liltin' a lady so gay,
W:And we daurna gang doon to the broom nae mair.

X:51
T:The Lover's Tasks
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Sharp MSS., 4933/. Singer unidentified, December I922.
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G % Pentatonic ( -4 -6) irregular
D | G2 G GFG | AAF G2 D |
w:My fath-er gave me an ac-re of land Sing
G2 G AGF | G3 G2 D | G2 G GFG |
w:Hey sing Ho* sing i-vy My fath-er gave me an
AAF G2 d | BAG AGF | G3 G |]
w:ac-re of land A bunch of green hol-ly a i-vy
W:
W:My father gave me an acre of land
W:Sing Hey sing Ho sing ivy
W:My father gave me an acre of land
W:A bunch of green holly a* ivy
W:
W:*Probably "and"

X:52
T:Sing Ivy
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Merrick, JFSS, I (I9OI), p. 83. Sung by Henry Hills,
O:Shepperton, I899; learned in Petworth, Sussex, c. I840-50.
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G % Hexatonic ( -6) irregular
D | GGG GGB | ccc A2 c |
w:My moth-er she gave me an ac-re of land, Sing
B3 G2 G | F3 D2 D | GGG GGB |
w:iv-y, sing iv-y. My moth-er she gave me an
ccc A3 | BAG AGF | G3 G2 |]
w:ac-re of land, Shall I go whistl-*ing iv-y?
W:
W:My mother she gave me an acre of land,
W:Sing ivy, sing ivy.
W:My mother she gave me an acre of land,
W:Shall I go whistling ivy?
W:
W:I ploughed it with a ram's horn,
W:sing ivy, sing ivy.
W:I ploughed it with a ram's horn,
W:Shall I go whistling ivy?
W:
W:I sowed it with a peppercorn, &c
W:
W:I harrowed it in with a bramble, &c
W:
W:I harrowed it in with a bramble bush, &c
W:
W:I reaped it with my penknife, &c
W:
W:I housed it in a mouse's hole, &c
W:
W:I threshed it with a beanstalk, &c
W:
W:I wimm'd it with a fly's wing, &c
W:
W:I measured it with my thimble, &c
W:
W:I put it on the cat's back, &c
W:
W:The cat she carried it to the mill, &c
W:
W:The miller swore he'd take a toll, &c
W:
W:The cat she swore she'd scratch his poll, &c

Group C

X:53
T:An Acre of Land
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Vaughan Williams, IFSS, II (I906), p. 212. Sung by Frank
O:Bailey, Coombe Bisset, Wiltshire, August 3I, 1904.
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G
B | G2 G G2 B/B/ | G>GG G3 |
w:My fath-er left me an ac-re of land
d3 d2 c | B2 c d2 d | e2 e cde |
w:There goes this iv-er-y My fath-er left me an
[M:9/8] dec B3 G2 A | [M:6/8] BcB BAG | E2 F G2 |]
w:ac-re of land, And a bunch of green hol-ly and iv-e-ry.
W:
W:My father left me an acre of land
W:There goes this ivery (?)
W:My father left me an acre of land,
W:And a bunch of green holly and ivery.
W:
W:I ploughed it with my ram's horn
W:There goes this ivery (?)
W:I sowed it with my thimble,
W:And a bunch of green holly and ivery.
W:
W:I harrowed it with my bramble-bush,
W:There goes etc.
W:I reaped it with my penknife,
W:And a etc.
W:
W:I sent it home in a walnut shell,
W:etc.
W:I threshed it with my needle and thread,
W:etc.
W:
W:I winnowed it with my handkerchief,
W:etc.
W:I sent it to mill with a team of great rats,
W:etc.
W:
W:The carter brought a curly whip,
W:etc.
W:The whip did pop and the waggon did stop,
W:etc.

X:54
T:Sing Ivy
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Moffat and Kidson, Children's Songs of Long ago, n.d.,
O:p. 48. Tune also in JFSS, II (I906), p. 2I3.
N:Child 2
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G % Hexatonic ( -6) irregular
D |GGG BAG | FGA G2 d |
w:My fath-er he left me three ac-res of land, Sing
B3 (AB)c | B3 d2 D | GGG BAG |
w:iv-y,* sing iv-y My fath-er he left me three
FGA G2 d | Bcd cBA | G3 G2 |]
w:ac-res of land, Sing hol-ly, go whist-le and i-vy.
W:
W:My father he left me three acres of land,
W:Sing ivy, sing ivy!
W:My father he left me three acres of land,
W:Sing holly, go whistle and ivy.
W:
W:I ploughed it one morning with a ram's horn,
W:Sing ivy, sing ivy!
W:
W:And sowed it all over with one pepper corn,
W:Sing holly, go whistle and ivy.
W:
W:I harrowed it next with a bramble bush,
W:Sing ivy, sing ivy!
W:
W:And reaped it all with my little penknife,
W:Sing holly, go whistle and ivy.
W:
W:The mice for me, carried it into the barn,
W:Sing ivy, sing ivyl
W:
W:And there I threshed it with a goose quill,
W:Sing holly, go whistle and ivy.
W:
W:The cat she carried it unto the mill,
W:Sing ivy, sing ivy!
W:
W:And the miller he said that he'd work with a will,
W:Sing holly, go whistle and ivy.

X:55
T:Sing Ivy
T:The Elfin Knight
B:Bronson
C:Trad
O:Gardiner, 1FSS, III (I907), pp. 274-75. Sung by William
O:Mason (60), Easton, near Winchester, November I906.
H:This copy appears with piano accompaniment, in G minor, in
C.J. Sharp and G. Holst, "Folk Songs of England", III, 1909, p.21
(Folk Songs of Hampshire).
N:Child 2
N: No, I don't understand how the alternate bars work, either!
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Gm
Id3 | c2 c G2 d/d/ | cBc IG2 D |
w:My fath-er gave me an ac-re of land, Sing
G3 A z "(a)"A | g2 d2 z g | "(b)"fef d2 d/d/ |
w:ov-y, sing iv-y, My fath-*er gave me an
cdc G2 G | "(c)"Gdd "(d)"dcB | A3 G3 |]
w:ac-re of land, A bunch of green hol-ly and iv-y.
%Uncomment the next line to see the alternates.
%"(a)" d || "(b)" g2 g d2 d || "(c)(once these 2 bars inserted)" ccc GAG | ccc G2 G ||"(d)"dcA | G3 G3 |]
W:
W:My father gave me an acre of land,
W:Sing ovy, sing ivy,
W:My father gave me an acre of land,
W:A bunch of green holly and ivy.
W:
W:I harrowed it with a bramble bush,
W:Sing ovy, sing ivy,
W:I harrowed it with a bramble bush,
W:A bunch of green holly and ivy.
W:
W:I sowed it with two peppering corns,
W:Sing ovy, sing ivy,
W:I sowed it with two pepper corns,
W:A bunch of green holly and ivy.
W:
W:I rolled it with a rolling-pin,
W:Sing ovy, sing ivy,
W:I rolled it with a rolling-pin,
W:A bunch of green holly and ivy.
W:
W:I reaped with my little pen-knife,
W:Sing ovy, sing ivy,
W:I reaped it with my little pen-knife,
W:A bunch of green holly and ivy.
W:
W:I stowed it in a mouse's hole,
W:Sing ovy, sing ivy,
W:I stowed it in a mouse's hole.
W:A bunch of green holly and ivy.
W:
W:I threshed it out with two beanstalks,
W:Sing ovy, sing ivy,
W:I threshed it out with two beanstalks,
W:A bunch of green holly and ivy.
W:
W:I sent my rats to market with that,
W:Sing ovy, sing ivy,
W:I sent my rats to market with that,
W:A bunch of green holly and ivy.
W:
W:My team o' rats came rattling back,
W:Sing ovy, sing ivy,
W:My team o' rats came rattling back
W:With fifty bright guineas and an empty sack,
W:A bunch of green holly and ivy.
W:

-----------------------------
Laird o' Elfin (1908 Version)

There stands three trumpeters on yon hill
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
Blaws their trumpets baith loud and shrill
And the wind blaws aye my plaid awa'

Gin I'd his trumpet in my kist
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
And were in the lad's airms that I like best
And the wind blaws aye my plaid awa'

Gin ye would a-be wed wi' me
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
There's ae thing ye maun dae for me
And the wind blaws aye my plaid awa'

Ye maun dry it on yon hawthorn
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
That hasna seen blossom sin* man was born (* or syne=since)
And the wind blaws aye my plaid awa'

Ye maun stook it in the sea
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
And bring the wheatsheaf dry tae me
And the wind blaws aye my plaid awa'

Ye maun win* it in your luif (*=winnow)
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
And stack it a' in your richt-hand with
And the wind blaws aye my plaid awa'

And gin you wark noo a' this wark
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
Come tae me and you'll get your sark
And the wind blaws aye my plaid awa'

[Ye maun winnow it on your loof,
And stack it all in yer right-hand glove.]

X:1
T:Laird o' Elfin
S:Alexander Robb, New Deer, Aberdenshire 1908
B:Greig-Duncan Collection II no 329A p 483
Z:Noted by Gavin Greig
N:Aeolian
L:1/8
Q:1/4=100
M:4/4
K:C
E3|E3 E c2 B2|A2 E E D3 z|E4 E4|D2 E G A2
w:The Laird o' El-fin stands on yon hill Ba ba ba lee-lie ba:
c d|e3 e c2 B2|A E3 D2 C D|E3 D C2 D2|E2 A2 A2|]
w:And he blows his trum-pet loud and shrill And the wind blows aye my plaid a-wa.

--------------------------------
The Elfin Knight (See above)
Ewan MacColl, Classic Scots Ballads, Tradition TCD 1051 (recorded 1959; original release: TLP 1015). Learned from Gavin Grieg's Last Leaves of Traditional Ballads and Ballad Airs, 1925.

There stands three trumpeters on yon hill
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
And they blaw their trumpets sae loud and shrill
And the wind it blaws my plaid awa'

Gin I'd his trumpet in my kist
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
And was in the lad's arms that I like best
And the wind it blaws my plaid awa'

Gin ye would be wed wi' me
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
There's ae thing ye maun dae for me
And the wind it blaws my plaid awa'

Ye maun mak' me a linen sark
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
Without a stitch o' needlewark
And the wind it blaws my plaid awa'

Ye maun wash it in yon draw-well
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
Where water never sprang or fell
And the wind it blaws my plaid awa'

Ye maun drt't on yon hawthorn
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
That hasna seen blossom since man was born
And the wind it blaws my plaid awa'

And gin I mak'a sark for thee
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
There's ae thing ye maun dae for me
And the wind it blaws my plaid awa'

My faither has an acre o' land
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
Ye maun plough it wi' you ae hand
And the wind it blaws my plaid awa'

Ye maun sow it wantin' corn
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
And roll it wi' a sheep's shank-bone
And the wind it blaws my plaid awa'

Ye maun shear it wi' a scythe o' leather
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
And bind it wi' a peacock's feather
And the wind it blaws my plaid awa'

Ye maun stook it in the sea
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
And bring the whaetsheaf dry to me
And the wind it blaws my plaid awa'

And gin ye wark noo all this wark
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
Come to me and you'll get your sark
And the wind it blaws my plaid awa'