Six Questions- Adamson (Nova Scotia) pre-1910
[From: Three Ballads from Nova Scotia by W. Roy Mackenzie; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 23, No. 89 (Jul. - Sep., 1910), pp. 371-380. also reprinted in Quest of the Ballad. Mackenzie's notes follow.
R. Matteson 2014]
The story of the third ballad, "Six Questions," is much less involved. John Adamson, an old lumberman of Millsville, recited it to me after he had first sung it through in compliance with the demands of convention and of necessity. He had got the ballad, years ago, from his wife, and his wife had got it "from a friend." Beyond this - and even here - the "Six Questions," as a matter of Nova Scotia tradition, fades into the mist.
SIX QUESTIONS
The following version of "Captain Wedderburn's Courtship" (Child, No. 46) was obtained from the singing and recitation of John Adamson, Millsville, Nova Scotia.
1. The Duke of Merchant's daughter walked out one summer's day.
She met a bold sea-captain by chance upon the way.
He says, " My pretty fair maid, if it was n't for the law,
I would have you in my bed this night by either stock or wa'."
2. She sighed and said, "Young man, oh, do not me perplex.
You must answer me in questions six before that I gang awa',
Or before that I lie in your bed by either stock or wa'-
3. "Oh, what is rounder than your ring ? What's higher than the trees?
Or what is worse than women's tongue ? What's deeper than the seas?
What bird sings first, what bird sings last? Or where does the dew first fall ? -
Before that I lie in your bed by either stock or wall."
4. "The globe is rounder than your ring. Sky's higher than the trees.
The devil's worse than women's tongue. Hell's deeper than the seas.
The roe sings first, the thirst sings last. On the earth the dew first falls,
Before that I lie in your bed by either stock or wall."
5. "You must get for me some winter fruit which in December grew.
You must get for me a silken cloak that ne'er a waft went through,
A sparrow's thorn, a priest new-born, before that I gang awa',
Before that I lie in your bed by either stock or wa'."
6. "My father's got some winter fruit which in December grew.
My mother's got a silken cloak that ne'er a waft went through.
Sparrows' thorns they're easy found. There's one on every claw.
So you and I lie in one bed, and you lie next the wa'."
7. "You must get for my wedding supper a chicken without a bone.
You must get for my wedding supper a cherry without a stone.
You must get for me a gentle bird, a bird without a gall,
Before that I lie in your bed by either stock or wall."
8. "Oh, when the chicken's in the egg, I 'm sure it has no bone.
And when the cherry's in full bloom, I 'm sure it has no stone.
The dove it is a gentle bird. It flies without a gall,
Before that I lie in your bed, by either stock or wall."
9. He took her by the lily-white hand and led her through the hall.
He held her by the slender waist for fear that she would fall.
He led her on his bed of down without a doubt at all,
So he and she lies in one bed, and he lies next the wall.