The Smart Schoolboy; Preston Wolford; Dot, Virginia 1935; collected by Niles
[From John Jacob Niles, Ballad Book, 1966. Cecil Sharp collected two variants from the Appalachians. This version was collected by John Jacob Niles in 1935 from Preston Wolford in Dot, Virginia.
R. Matteson 2014]
THE SMART SCHOOLBOY- Sung by Preston Wolford Virginia, 1935
Oh, where be ye going?
Said the knight on the road,
I be going to school,
Said the boy as he stood.
And he stood and he stood
And 'twas well that he stood,
I be going to school,
Said the boy as he stood.
Oh what do ye there?
Said the knight on the road,
I read from my book
Said the boy as he stood.
And he stood and he stood
And 'twas well that he stood,
I read from my book,
Said the boy as he stood.
Oh what have ye got?
Said the knight on the road,
'Tis a bait of bread and cheese.
Said the boy as he stood.
And he stood and he stood
And 'twas well that he stood,
Said the boy as he stood.
Oh pray give me some
Said the knight on the road,
Oh no, not a crumb.
Said the boy as he stood.
And he stood and he stood
And 'twas well that he stood,
Oh no, not a crumb,
Said the boy as he stood.
I hear your school bell,
Said the knight on the road,
Hit's a-ringing you to hell.
Said the boy as he stood.
And he stood and he stood
And 'twas well that he stood,
Hit's a-ringing you to hell.
Said the boy as he stood.