Bluegrass Messengers

There was a knight- John Walker (Aber) 1843 Child

[From Child's ESPB, Additions and Corrections, Volume V, pp. 205-6. Sent in by William Walker. John Walker is not a relative of William Walker a correspondent with child.

R. Matteson 2018]

"There was a knight." Communicated by Mr William Walker, of Aberdeen, as sung, 1893, by John Walker, Portlethen; learned by him from his father, above fifty years before. As delivered, 5-8 precede 2-4.

1 There was a knight on the head o yon hill 
Blowing his horn lood and shrill.
Blow, blow, blow the wind, blow

2 ' Ye 'se get to me a camrick sark 
Without ae steek o needlewark.

3 ' An ye will wash it in a wall
Where rain never fell nor water sprang.

4 ' An ye sail dry it on a thorn
That never wis sprung sin Adam was born.'

5 ' Ye 'se gie me an acre o red Ian 
Atween the see an the watery san.

6 ' An ye will plough it wi yer horn, 
An sa it a' wi ae pick o corn.

7 ' .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .
An cat it doon wi a sheepshank bone.

8 ' An ye will big it in the sea,
An bring the foonshief dry to me.

9 ' An when ye have done and finished yer wark,
Come in, Jock Sheep, an ye'll get yer sark.'