The Turkish Lady- Pettit (KY) pre-1907 Kittredge ; Sharp B
[From Ballads and Rhymes from Kentucky by G. L. Kittredge; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 20, No. 79 (Oct. - Dec., 1907), pp. 251-277. This version was reprinted by Cecil Sharp as his "Young Beichan" B version and included in the EFFSA 1917 and 1932 editions. The music is included and can be viewed below. Kitredge's notes follow.
R. Matteson 2014]
THE following ballads and rhymes from the mountains of Kentucky were collected recently by Miss Katherine Pettit of Hindman, Knott County, in that State. Miss Pettit has had the kindness to send the material to the Journal for publication.
THE TURKISH LADY
This is a fragmentary version of "Lord Bateman" (Child, No. 53 L). The last stanza contains the speech of the porter to Bateman and should precede stanza 2 [stanza 9?].
1. There was a man who lived in England,
He was of some high degree;
He became uneasy, discontented,
Some fair land, some land to see.
2. He sailed east, he sailed west,
He sailed all over the Turkish shore,
Till he was caught and put in prison,
Never to be released any more.
3. The Turk he had but the one lone daughter,
She was of some high degree;
She stole the keys from her father's dwelling,
And declared Lord Batesman she'd set free.
4. She led him down to the lower cellar,
And drew him a drink of the strongest wine;
"Every moment seems an hour;
Lord Batesman, if you were mine!
5. "Let's make a vow, let's make a promise,
Let's make a vow, let's make it stand:
You vow you'll marry no other woman,
I will vow I'll marry no other man."
6. They made a vow, they made a promise,
They made a vow, they made it stand;
He vowed he'd marry no other woman,
She vowed she'd marry no other man.
7. Seven long years has rolled around,
It seemed as if it was twenty-three;
She bundled up her finest clothing,
Declared Lord Batesman she'd go see.
8. Seven long years has rolled around,
It seemed as if it were twenty-nine;
She bundled up her finest clothing,
And declared Lord Batesman she'd go find.
9. She went till she came to the gate, she tingled;
It was so loud, but she wouldn't come in:
"Is this your place," she cried, "Lord Batesman?
"Or is it that you've brought your new bride in?"
10. "Go remember him of a piece of bread;
Go remember him of a glass of wine;
Go remember him of the Turkish lady
Who freed him from the cold iron bonds."
11. He stamped his foot upon the floor;
He burst the table in pieces three,
Saying, "I'll forsake both land and dwelling
For the Turkish lady that set me free."
12. She went till she came to the gate, she tingled;
It was so loud, but she wouldn't come in:
"She's got more gold on her little finger
Than your new bride and all your kin."