The Beggar's Bride- McGill (NB) c.1929 Barry
Barry's notes from BBFM:
THE GABERLUNYIE MAN- This is the ballad, rewritten in 1724 by Allan Ramsay, which tradition ascribes to King James V, of scotland. Greig's texts are somewhat similar, but are from the northeast of Scotland, while Mrs. McGill's is a Galloway version.
"The Beggar's Bride." (Child 279, Appendix) Text written down by Mrs. James McGill, Chamcook, New Brunswick. Air recorded from her singing by Mr. George Herzog.
1. A beggar man cam' o'er the lea,
Seekin' help an' charity,
Seekin' help an' charitee-
"Could 'e lodge a beggar man?"
O, Ladli tae mi tow row ra.
2. Doon by the fire the auld man sat,
An' cast his meal pouch aff his back,
He cast his meal pouch aff his back,
An' aye he rant an' sang-
Singin', Ladli tae mi tow row ra.
3. ''If I was as black as I am white,
As the snaw that lies on yonder dyke,
I'd dress mysel' up beggar-like
An' awa' wi' you I'd gang,"
Sae, Ladli tae mi tow row ra.
4. "O lassie, O lassie,ye're far ower young,
'E ha' na got the cant o' a begging tongue,
'E ha' na got the cant o' a begging tongue,
Ant wit me ye canna gang."
Singing, Ladli tae mi tow row ra.
5. "I'll bow my back an' bend my knee,
An' pit a black patch on my e'e,
An' for a beggar thae'll tak' me
An' awa' wi' you I'll gang."
Sae, Ladli tae mi tow row ra.
6. "Betide me weel, betide me woe,
It's wi' the beggar man I will go,
An' follow him thro frost ant snow,
I care na' what they say."
Sae, Ladli tae mi tow row ra.
7. Sae the twa made up the plot
Tae rise two oors afore the auld folk,
Tae rise two oors afore the auld folk,
An' ower the fields they ran,
Singin', Ladli tae mi tow row ra.
8. Up the mornin' the aul' folk arose,
[Remainder of stanza forgotten.]
9. She went tae the room where the dochter lay,
The sheets were cauld an' she was awa',
The sheets were cauld an' she was awa',
Awa' wi' the beggar man.
Sae, Ladli tae mi tow row ra.
10 Some rode on horseback, some rode on fit,
But the auld wife she wasna fit,
She hirpled aboot frae bit to bit,
Sayin', "A beggar I'll ne'er lodge again."
Singing, Ladli tae mi tow roi ra.
11. Seven lang years are past an' gane,
Whan back cam' the same beggar man again,
Seekin' a place to lodge in,
Sayin' "Could 'e lodge a beggar man ?"
Sae, Ladli tae mi tow row ra.
12. "A beggar, a beggar I'll ne'er lodge again,
I had ae dochter but ane o' ma ain,
An' awa' wi' a beggar man she's gane,
An' a' canna' tell when nor where,
Sae, Ladli tae mi tow row ra.
13. "Yonder's your dochter comes ower yon lea,
Wi' many a fine story to tell to theei
Not a beggar's bride but a gay ladye,
Since she followed a beggarman,"
Sae ladli tae mi tow row ra.