Young Arnold's Wife- Ammons (WV) 1957 Musick B
[From: Ballads and Folksongs from West Virginia by Ruth Ann Musick; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 70, No. 277 (Jul. - Sep., 1957), pp. 247-261. It seems that this should be Hammons, from the famous Hammons family of West Virginia.
From the second article in JAF.
R. Matteson 2015]
8.2. Young Arnold's Wife. From the Ammons notebook (see n. 9), where its title is given as "Young Arnold's Wife." I have been unable to record the tune.
(1) The first came up was scarlet red,
The second a violet blue,
The third came up was Lord Arnold's wife,
The fairest of the crew.
(2) She cast her eye on young McGrew,
The like had never been known;
"McGrew, McGrew, would you be so kind,
To ride along home with me?"
(3) "Oh that, oh that, I dare not do;
I dare not for my life;
For I tell by the ring on little finger,
You are Lord Arnold's wife."
(4) "What if I am Lord Arnold's wife?
Lord Arnold is not at home;
He's gone unto young Henry's house,
To bring young Henry home."
(5) The little foot page was standing by,
He heard every word they said;
He thought he would go to young
Henry's home,
Before he went to bed.
(6) He ran till he came to the water so deep;
He leaped in, he swam;
He swam till he came to the other shore,
He leaped out, he ran.
(7) He ran till he came to Lord Arnold's gate,
He knocked, he rapped, he rung;
And who was there to let him in
But Lord Arnold was himself.
(8) "What news, what news, do you bring from town?
What news do you bring for me?
Is any of my buildings burning up,
Or any of my walls fell down?"
(9) "There's none of your buildings burning up,
Or any of your walls fell down;
Your wife's in bed with another man
In fair London town."
(10) "If this be a lie you tell to me,
Which I suppose it to be,
I'll build a scaffold so high, so high,
And you shall hanged be."
(11) "If this be a lie I tell to you,
Which you suppose it to be,
You need no gallows so high to build,
But hang on yonder tree."
(12) The chickens is crowing, "It's day, it's day!"
The chickens is crowing, "It's day!"
When a man's in bed with another man's wife,
It's time he was up and away.
(13) Early next morning McGrew he woke;
Lord Arnold was standing at his feet.
"How do you like my bed?" said he,
"And how do you like my sheet?"
(14) "Very well do I like my bed," said he;
"Very well do I like my sheet;
Far better do I like your little ladie,
That's in my arms asleep."
(15) "Get up, get up, your clothes put on,
Get up, your clothes put on;
For it never shall be said of me,
I murdered a naked man."
(16) "Oh that, oh that, I dare not do,
I dare not for my life;
For you have swords by your side,
And I haven't got a knife."
(17) "If I've got swords at my side,
They cost me deep in my purse;
And you can have the very best one,
And I will take the worst."
(18) "And you can strike the very first blow,
And strike it like a man;
And I'll strike the very next blow,
I'll kill you if I can."
(19) McGrew he struck the very first blow,
He wounded Lord Arnold sore;
Lord Arnold struck the second blow,
McGrew, he could strike no more.
(20) He took his wife by her white hand,
He gave her kisses three;
He held his sword in his right hand,
He pierced her deep and severe.
(21) Lord Arnold killed them, as today,
And he is to be hung tomorrow;
This man and woman, they lived in peace,
But shortly died in sorrow.