The New Hampshire Bite- Young (ME) 1929 Barry C
[From British Ballads from Maine, 1929; Barry Eckstorm Smyth pp. 406-413, "The Yorkshire Bite" (3 texts, 1 tune); also pp. 477-478, "The Crafty Farmer". This version dates back much earlier than the 1929 date when the book was published. notes on the title are:
Here, another English song has been taken bodily and left on the doorstep of a near-neighbor, for no other reason save that, to the Maine man, there was no Hampshire but New Hampshire. Old York County lay contiguous to New Hampshire; "Yorkshire" did not sound quite right for York County, New Hampshire was adopted instead.
Barry published one of the first US version in 1908, reprinting it in 1910 in JOAFL. He teamed up with Flanders in the early 1930s. Below are the notes which seem to be Eckstorm's.
R. Matteson 2014]
"The Crafty Farmer" has been so difficult to obtain that we have come no nearer than this occurrence, noted by Captain Donovan [who heard a version sung similar to Child A], so far as we know, the only American text of it ever reported was one from West Virginia by Professor Cox. It is certain, however, that the ballad was known in Massachusetts at the close of the eighteenth century. See the "Anecdote of Rev. Ivory Hovey" with notes by P.B. in JAFL, XXIII, PP. 451-453. Yet while, The Crafty Farmer" has hitherto proven an impossibility, there is no limit to the number of copies obtainable of the derived, and very similar song, "The Yorkshire Bite." We have found a number cf texts and could have had many more, as it was very popular in Maine. It is the song often called "Saddle to Rags." There is also a parallel- story of the girl who outwits the highwayman, which we have not found in Maine.
THE YORKSHIRE BITE
(cf. Child 283)
C. "The New Hampshire Bite." From the manuscript book of Mrs. Susie Carr Young, Brewer (one of her Grandmother Carr's songs). Dorian Mode.
[music upcoming]
1. I lived in Hampshire, a mason by trade,
I had for my servants a man and a maid,
A Hampshire boy I had for a man,
All for to do my business- his name was John,
To me roddy, toddy ink,
Rod, tod, tiddy ink.
Rod tod tiddy oddy day.
2. Early one morning I called for John,
Hearing his master he quickly did come,
Saying, "Take this cow and drive her to the fair,
For she's in good order, the one I have to spare."
To me roddy, toddy ink, etc.
3. John took the cow out of the barn,
And drove her on the highway, as we do learn;
He hadn't drove 'er far 'fore he met three men
And he sold his cow for six pound ten.
To me roddy, toddy, ink, etc.
4. They called to the tavern to get some drink,
The three old farmers paid down the chink,
And unto the landlady he did say,
"O what shall I do with this money, I pray?"
To me roddy, toddy ink, etc'
5. "l'll put it in your coat-lining," said she,
"For fear on tle highway, O robbed you might be."
There sat the robber, looking very fine;
So he said to himself, "That money shall be mine."
To me roddy, toddy ink, etc.
6. John took his leave and away he did go,
The highwayman followed after also;
He overtook the boy all on the highway
"You're well overtaken, young man," he did say.
To me roddy, toddy ink, etc.
7. "Jump up behind me and you can ride,
How far are you going, boy?" he replied,
"About four miles, as far as-- I dunno!"
So he jumped up behind and away they did go.
To me roddy, toddy ink, etc.
8. They rode till they came to a long dark lane,
"And now," said ihe robber, "l'll tell you plain,
Deliver up your money without any strife,
Or I will sure take your sweet life."
To me roddy, toddy ink, etc.
9. John then thought [it] no time to dispute,
He jumped off the horse without fear or doubt,
And out of his coat-lining he pulled the money out
And among the tall weeds he strewed it all about.
To me roddy, toddy ink, etc.
10 The robber, jumping off his horse,
O little did he think it would be for his loss.
Picking up the money along the roadside;
O John jumped on and away he did ride.
To me roddy, toddy ink, etc.
11 The robber called for John to stay,
He did not mind, but he still rode away,
And unto his master he did bring
"Horse, saddle and bridle and many a fine thing.
To me roddy, toddy ink, etc.
12. The maid looked out of the window and seeing John come
She called to her master all in the other room,
The master to the door, and looking very cross,
Said he, " 'S my cow turned into a horse?"
To me roddy, toddy ink, etc.
13. Out of the saddle bags then was told
A hundred pounds in silver and gold.
Beside a pair of pistols, John made a bow,
Saying, "I think, good master, I've well sold your cow."
To me roddy, toddy ink, etc.
14. "O yes, for a boy you have done very rare,
Two thirds of this money you shall have for your share.
And as for the rogue, you have served him just right,
For I think you put upon him a New Hampshire bite."
To me roddy, toddy ink,
Rod tod tiddy ink,
Rod tod tiddy oddy day.