The Yorkshire Bite- Johnson (NC) 1930 Henry A
[From: Still More Ballads and Folk-Songs from the Southern Highlands Mellinger E. Henry; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 45, No. 175 (Jan. - Mar., 1932), pp. 1-176; also in Folk Songs from the Southern Highlands.
This is not a local title and has been assigned by Henry. Later the local title was given as the "Robber Song." Compare also to other versions from NC in the Brown collection, esp. the version in Vol. 4.
R. Matteson 2014]
8. THE YORKSHIRE BITE.
(Cf. Child, No. 283).
A. "Robber Song." Recorded by Mrs. Henry from the singing of Mrs. Lee Johnson, Pyatt, North Carolina, July, 1930. Mrs. Johnson obtained the song from her brother, Monty, who learned it at a logging camp at Wilson Creek, N. C. For this parallel of "The Crafty Farmer" see Combs, Folk-Songs du Midi des Etats-Unis, p. 149 (a West Virginia text in which a South Carolina man's Negro servant is praised by his master for putting upon a Virginia villain "A South Carolina Bite"); Barry-Eckstorm-Smyth, p. 406 (three versions); Barry, Journal, XXIII, 451; Kittredge, Journal, XXX, 367.
1. "Come down, come down," said the farmer to his son,
"To make you some money" (and his name was John.)
"Here's a cow you can take her to the fair.
She's in good order and it's her I can spare."
Like tothers - tothers -
Come - a - ran - tan - e - o.
2. He took that cow and he started to the fair;
Hadn't been gone long till he met with a man;
Hadn't been gone long till he met with a man;
He sold that cow for six pounds of tan.
Like tothers - tothers -
Come - a - ran - tan - e - o.
3. He went down to the bar-room to get him a drink;
The money was paid right down in chink;
There was a lady all dressed so fine;
She sewed that money in his coat line.
Like tothers - tothers -
Come - a - ran - tan - e - o.
4. The boy got out and he started for his home;
The robbers they mounted and they come following on.
"If you are going down the road for a few miles,
Hop on behind and we'll both take a ride."
Like tothers - tothers -
Come -a - ran - tan - e - o.
5. Hadn't been gone more than a mile that way
Till robbers said, "I'll tell you in plain;
It's your money I want without any strife;
If I don't get it, I'll end your sweet life."
Like tothers - tothers -
Come - a - ran - tan - e - o.
6. The boy ran his hands in his pockets and pulled his money out.
In a high patch of weeds he strew it all about
And the robber jumped off to pick up the loss
And the boy jumped in the saddle and rode off with the horse.
Like tothers - tothers -
Come - a - ran - tan - e - o.
7. "Come back, come back," the robber he roared;
"Come back, come back," the robber he roared;
"Come back, come back," the robber he roared;
"I'll give you your own and ten thousand more."
Like tothers - tothers -
Come - a - ean - tan - e - o.
8. The boy rode on to the old man's door;
The old man came out with a stamp on the floor;
Said, "Son, oh, son, ain't it a curse,
That our old cow's turned off to a horse?"
Like tothers - tothers -
Come - a - ran - tan - e - o.
9. The boy run his hand in his pocket and begun to unfold;
He had ten thousand in silver and gold;
The old man begin to puff and he begin to swell.
"Daddy don't you think I sold your cow well?"
Like tothers - tothers -
Come - a - ran - tan - e - o.