The Child On The Road- Archie Fisher (Glasgow), 1968
[From "Archie Fisher," his self-titled 1968 album on Translantic XTRA 1070 LP. Fisher says his version is "a reconstruction of a similar version sung and played by the late Ted Furey". It's not likely that Furey's version was traditional and was probably also an arrangement of Henneberry's Nova Scotia arrangement which combines Child 3 with Child 1.
R. Matteson 2018]
The Child On The Road- sung by Archie Fisher, 1968
Now where do you fare and what is that you bear?
Said the false knight to the child in the road
Now, nowhere do I fare and nothing do I bear
Said the pretty little child only seven years old
What is that upon your back in your brown heavy sack?
Said the false knight to the child in the road
I have books upon me back in me brown heavy sack
Said the pretty little child only seven years old
Tell me what is on your arm 'less you want to come to harm?
Said the false knight to the child in the road
I've have peats upon me arm that I got out at the farm
Said the pretty little child only seven years old
What is higher than a tree, what is deeper than the sea?
Said the false knight to the child in the road
Heaven's higher than the tree, Hell is deeper than the sea
Said the pretty little child only seven years old
Oh I have a gallows high and a rope to swing you by
Said the false knight to the child in the road
If you want to swing me high gallows you may ply
Said the pretty little child only seven years old
I've a bird without a wing and a song that doesn't sing
Said the false knight to the child in the road
Like the bird, I'll take the wing leaving you the song to sing
Said the pretty little child only seven years old
___________________________
Declan Hunt used to sing this additional verse:
Oh have you got a father and have you got a mother?
Said the false knight to the child on the road.
I've a father and a mother, and a sister and a brother
Said the pretty little child only seven years road.
and in between verses he would lilt the "B" part to Flowers Of Edinboro.
----------------------------
(Wiki bio- Archie Fisher)
Archie Fisher MBE (born 1939) is a Scottish folk singer and song writer.
The early years
Archie Fisher was born in Glasgow on 23 October 1939 into a large singing family. His sister Cilla Fisher is also a professional singer, as was his late sister Ray. In 1960 he moved to Edinburgh and appeared regularly at the "The Howff" folk club run by Roy Guest. In 1962 Ray and Archie released the single "Far Over the Forth" on the Topic Records label and appeared on the BBC 'Hootenanny' programme. In 1965 the whole family released the album "Traditional and New Songs from Scotland". Archie met Robin Williamson, Clive Palmer and Mike Heron, later to become The Incredible String Band.
Edinburgh Folk Festival
By 1964 the Edinburgh Fringe could boast a folk festival in its own right. An album of the participants was released on Decca. It was called "Edinburgh Folk Festival vol 2" and contained tracks by Ray Fisher, Archie Fisher, Anne Briggs, and The Ian Campbell Folk Group (including Dave Swarbrick). Jansch and Briggs performed together but this was never recorded. At an early stage Archie recognised the power of Barbara Dickson's singing and in 1969 invited her to guest on his albums. His live act included 'All Around My Hat', later to become a hit for Steeleye Span. His song "Witch of the Westmorland" was recorded by Barbara Dickson in 1971 on her album "From the Beggar's Mantle", by Archie on "The Man With a Rhyme" in 1976, by Stan Rogers in 1979 and by Golden Bough in 1983.
The comeback
In 1983 he started hosting a long-running folk programme on BBC Radio Scotland, called Travelling Folk. He retired in April 2010, handing over presenting duties to fiddler Bruce MacGregor. He appeared as the lead guitarist on Tom Paxton's 1986 album, The Very Best of Tom Paxton and performed with Tommy Makem & Liam Clancy. After Barbara Dickson achieved fame as an easy listening singer it was many years before she sang folk songs again. When she did, Archie was invited back to join her. Archie has toured Canada and the U.S. as a solo act as well as appearing with first Garnet Rogers, and more recently, John Renbourn. His style of singing is very gentle and he avoids all electronic instruments. "Dark-Eyed Molly" has been recorded by Fairport Convention, Eva Cassidy, Stan Rogers, and Sheena Wellington. "Lindsay" has been recorded by John Renbourn and has been a highlight at his live shows for years, while "Mountain Rain" has been recorded by Wizz Jones (along with John Renbourn on guitar). He now lives in the south of Scotland. He was awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours List in 2006.
Discography
Fisher FamilyTraditional and New Songs From Scotland (1965)
Solo Recordings
Archie Fisher (1968)
Orfeo (1970)
Will Ye Gang, Love (1976)
The Man With A Rhyme (1976)
Sunsets I've Galloped Into (1988)
Windward Away (2008)
With Barbara Dickson
The Fate o' Charlie (1969)
Thro' The Recent Years (1970)
With Garnet Rogers
Off the Map (1986)