The Three Scotch Robbers - Evilsizer (MI) 1934; Gardner A
[From Ballads and Songs from Southern Michigan by Gardner and Chickering, 1939. Their notes follow.
R. Matteson 2013]
81. THE THREE SCOTCH ROBBERS
(Henry Martyn, Child, No 250)
Except for the omission of the following significant stanza, Michigan A is almost identical with Child No. 250, E (V, 302-303):
Now when this news reached Merrie England— King George he wore the crown— That his ship and his cargo were taken away, And his brave men they were all drowned.
In a version from Missouri printed by Belden, JAFL, XXV, 171-173 and reprinted by Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, pp. 252-253, Andy Bardan was condemned to death on the gallows. For additional versions and references see Cox, pp. 150-151; Eddy, No. 17; Mackenzie, p. 61; and Williams, pp. 78-79
Version A was sung in 1934 by Mr. Otis Evilsizer, Alger.
A. 'The Three Scotch Robbers.'
1 There were three brothers in old Scotland,
Three jolly brothers were they,
For they cast lots, and they did cast lots,
To see which would maintain the whole three, three, three,
To see which would maintain the whole three.
2 The lot it fell on Andrew Bretan,
The youngest of the three,
That he should go roaming all o'er the salt sea
To maintain his two brothers and he.
3 They hadn't been sailing but a week or ten days
When a ship they did espy,
A ship which came sailing far off and far on,
And at length it came sailing so nigh.
4 "Who are you? Who are you?" cried Andrew Bretan,
"Who are you and where are you bound?"
"We are the rich merchants from old England,
Will you please for to let us pass by?"
5 "O no, O no," cried Andrew Bretan,
"Such a thing could never be;
Your ship and your cargo we'll take all away
And your jolly crew drown in the sea."
6 "Go build me a ship," cried Captain James Stuart,
"Go build it strong and sure,
And if I don't bring in that Andrew Bretan
My life shall no longer endure."
7 They hadn't been sailing but a week or ten days
When a ship they did espy,
A ship which came sailing far off and far on,
And at length it came sailing so nigh.
8 "Who are you? Who are you?" cried Captain James Stuart,
"Who are you, and where are you bound?"
"We are the Scotch robbers from old Scotland,
Would you please for to let us pass by?"
9 "O no, O no," cried Captain James Stuart,
"Such a thing could never be,
Your ship and your cargo we'll take all away,
And your jolly crew drown in the sea."
10 "Come on, come on," cried Andrew Bretan,
"We fear you not a pin.
You show us bright brass without, without,
We'll show you bright steel within."
11 The fight, the fight it did begin,
Loud cannons they did roar,
The battle it lasted two hours and a half,
When Captain James Stuart gave o'er.
12 "Go home, go home," cried Andrew Bretan,
"Go home and tell King George
That if he'll reign king o'er all the dry land,
I will reign king o'er the sea."