Get all 105 Ewan MacColl releases available on Bandcamp and save 40%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Chants De Marins Anglais Vol.2, The New Briton Gazette - Vol.2, The Long Harvest - Vol.12 (Second Crop), The Long Harvest - Vol.11 (Ballads resident and migrant), Joy of Living: A Tribute to Ewan MacColl, Naming Of Names, Parsley, Sage and Politics, Blood & Roses Volume 5, and 97 more.
1. |
Geordie (Child 209)
03:13
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As I walked over old London's Bridge
It was in the morning early,
There I espied a most pretty fair maid
Lamenting for her Georgie.
She said, Now saddle to me my black,
Bridle him right gaily,
And I will ride now this livelong night
And beg for the life of Georgie.
She rode, she rode until she came there,
It was in the morning early,
Down on her bended kneed she fell
Saying, Spare the life of Georgie!
She now took out her purse of gold
Crying, Lawyers, money a-plenty!
Just fee yourself now and think on me
And plead for the life of Georgie!
Then Georgie's lawyer he rose up
Says, I've nothing at all against him.
By his own confession now he must die
And the Lord have mercy on him.
The judge looked over his left shoulder;
He looked both sad and sorry;
My pretty fair maid, you have come too late,
Georgie's gonna be hung tomorrow.
Georgie walked up and down the hall,
Bidding adieu to many,
But when he came to his own true love
That grieved him worse than any.
Georgie was hanged in them golden chains,
Such chains you don't see many;
Georgie he come of a noble race
And loved a virtuous lady.
Georgie is buried in Harlan State
And over him grows a willow,
With a marble slab at his head and feet
And his true love's arm for a pillow.
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2. |
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Listen, good people, to my tale,
Listen to what I tell to thee;
The King has ta'en a poor prisoner
The wanton Laird o' Ochiltree.
When news it cam' tae the Queen,
She sighed and sair richt mournfully:
O, whit will come o' Lady Margret
Wha bears sic love for Ochiltree?
The queen she's gane intil the King
And louted low doon til her knee;
I never asked a boon but noo:
O, spare the life o' Ochiltree.
Gin ye had asked for hoose or land
I'd freely gie them a' to thee,
But a' the gowd fair Scotland
Winna buy the life o' Ochiltree.
The Queen she tripped doon the stair,
And doon she gaed richt mournfully;
A' the gowd in fair Scotland
Winna buy the life o' Ochiltree.
Lady Margaret tore her yellow hair,
And aye the saut tear blint her e'e;
I'll tak' a knife and end my life'
And lie in the ground wi' Ochiltree.
always, blinded her eye
O na, na, na, then, quoth the Queen,
O haud your tongue, this maunna be!
I'll set ye on a better way
To free the Laird o' Ochiltree.
The Queen she slippit up the stair,
And up she gaed richt privilee;
And she has stolen the prison keys
And lowsed the Laird o' Ochiltree.
She's gi'en to him a purse o' gowd
And anither o' the white money;
She's gi'en him twa pistols by his side,
Says, Fire them baith when ye gang free.
When he cam' tae the Queen's window,
Whaten a joyfu' cry gi'ed he!
He's fired the pistols and he's awa',
The wanton Laird o' Ochiltree.
The King he rose up in his bed.
O, wha is this has waukened me?
I'll pledge my lands and a' my rents
It's the wanton Laird o' Ochiltree.
Then ca' to me my jailors a',
Ca' them by thirty and by three!
I swear that e'er the clock strikes twal'
That hangit high they a' shall be.
O na, na, na, then cried the Queen,
Na, na, na that cannae be!
Gin ye are gaun tae hang them a'
Ye maun, my love, begin wi' me.
The tane was shippit at the pier o' Leith,
Lady Margaret at the Queen's ferry.
And she's gotten a faither tae her bairn,
The wanton Laird o' Ochiltree.
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3. |
Auld Matrons (Child 249)
04:50
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My love she is a gentlewoman,
Has her living by the seam;
I ken nae how she is provided
This nicht for me and my foot-groom.
Willie's gane tae Annie's bower-door
And tirled gently at the pin;
Sleep ye or wake ye, my dear Annie?
Open the door and let me in.
Wi' her white fingers lang and sma',
She's lifted gently at the pin;
Flang her airms a' aboot him,
Kindly welcomed Willie in.
O, will ye gang tae cairds or dice,
Willie, will ye hang tae play?
Or will ye gang tae a weel-made bed
And lie and sleep awhile till day?
My love Annie, my dear Annie,
I would be at your desire,
It it wasnae for yon Auld Matrons
Sitting by the kitchen fire.
Willie dear, keep up your hairt,
Keep up your hairt and dinnae fear;
For seiven year and mair hae passed
Since last her feet did file the fleer.
They hadnae kissed nor gi'en love's handsel
The way of lovers when they meet;
When up arose yon Auld Matrons,
And sae well she spread her feet. first exchange
O wae befa' yon Auld Matrons
Sae clever as she took the gate,
And she's gane up yon high high hill
And chappit at the sheriff's yett.
Sleep ye or wake ye, my good lord,
And areye no' your bower within?
There's a knicht in bed wi' your dochter
And I fear she's gotten wrang.
Ye'll gae doon through Kelso toon,
And wauken a' my merry men;
And when ye hae this wark weel done
Then I will come and tak' command.
She's done her doon through Kelso toon
And waukened a' his merry men;
And when she had this wark weel done
Then he has come and ta'en command.
He has his horse wi' corn foddered,
A' his men were armed in mail;
He's gi'en Auld Matrons half a wark
Tae lead his men oot ower the hill.
Willie slept but Annie waukened
When she heard their bridles ring;
She shook her Willie by the shouther
Rise, my love, ye sleep ower lang.
O, gi'e nae sign, my ain dear lassie
Till I've pit on my shooting gear;
Then I wadna fear the King himsel'
Though he and a' his men were here.
They shot their arrows through the window,
ane o' them grazed Willie's broo,
The lassie grat and tore her hair
This nicht we'll a' hae cause to rue.
Willie shot his arrows oot
Until the bow brunt in his hand;
And aye he kissed her rosy lips,
Says, See they fa' on ilka head!
He set his horn intil his mouth
And blawn a blast sae lood and shrill;
It was heard by Jock, his brither,
In Rindlewood whaur he lay still.
The firsten shot his brither lowsed
It stretched twa men oot on the green;
The neisten shot his brother lowsed
Then it's ca'd oot the sheriff's e'en.
Wha will be my e'en? he cried,
Lend me an airm or mebbe twa!
And they that come for strife this nicht
Tak' horse! Tak' horse and ride awa'!
But wae befa' ye, Auld Matrons
And an ill deith may ye dee!
I'll burn ye on yon high hill-heid
And blow your ashes in the sea.
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4. |
Fair Rosamund
02:15
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I have a sister, young Clifford he said,
A sister no man knows;
She hath a colour in her cheek
Like drops of blood in snow,
Like drops of blood in snow.
She hath a waist, a waist, a waist
Like to my silver cane;
And I would not for ten-thousand worlds
Have King Henry know her name,
Have King Henry know her name.
King Henry was in his bower
Hidden close and still;
And every word young Clifford spoke
He wrote down in a bill,
He wrote down in a bill.
Now, the first fair line she looked on
She did begin to smile,
And the next fair line she looked on
Down the tears did fall,
Down the tears did fall.
Cursèd be my brother Clifford,
O, cursèd may be be!
Why don't he dote on his hawks and hounds
But he must dote on me,
He must dote on me.
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5. |
Glasgerion (Child 67)
06:22
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Glenkindie was a harper guid
He harpit tae the King.
Glenkindie was the best harper
That ever harped on a string.
He could harpit a fish oot o' saut water
Or water oot o' a stane;
He could harpit the milk fae a maiden's breist
Whe ne'er gied souk tae wean.
He's harpit in the King's castle,
He's harpit them a' asleep;
A' but the bonnie young countess
Wha love did wauken keep.
First he harpit a dowie air
And syne he harpit a gay;
And mony a sigh between the hands
I wat the lady gie.
When day is dawen and cocks are crawin'
And wappit their wings sae wide;
It's ye may come unto my bower
And lie doon by my side.
But mind that ye tell na Jock, your man,
Whatever that ye dee!
For if an ye tell Jock, your man,
He'll beguile baith you and me.
He's ta'en his harp intil his hand
He harpit and he sang;
And he is hame tae Jock, his man,
As fast as he can gang.
I think that I could tell ye, Jock,
Gin I a man had slain;
Ay, that ye micht, my maister dear,
Although ye had slain ten.
When day is dawen and cock hae crawin',
And wappit their wings sae wide,
I'm bidden to yon lady's bower
Tae lie doon by her side.
Then harken weel noo, Jock my man,
And tak' tent whit I say!
Gin ye dinna wauken me in time,
High hangit ye shall be.
Then gang tae your bed, my maister dear,
I fear ye've waked ower lang,
I'll wauken ye in as guid time
As any cock in the land.
Jock's ta'en his harp intil his hand
He harpit and he sang;
Until Glenkindie laid him doon
And fast asleep did gang.
Then he has gane tae the lady's bower
As fast as he could rin;
And when he ca' tae the bower door,
He tirled at the pin.
O, wha is this, the lady cried
That tirls at the pin?
Wha but Glenkindie, your ain true love?
O, rise and let me in.
She kent he was nae gently knicht
That she had letten in;
For neither when he came or went
Kissed he her cheek nor chin.
He neither kissed her when he cam'
Nor clappit her when he gaed;
And in and at her bower window
The moon shone like a gleid
O, ragged is your hose, Glenkindie,
Riven are uour sheen;
A' raivelled is your yellow hair
That I saw late yestreen.
The stockings they are Jock, my man's,
Cam' first intae my hand;
The sheen as well belong tae him,
At my bed-foot they stand;
And I raivelled a' my yellow hair
Wi' rinnin against the wind.
He's ta'en his harp intil his hand,
He harpit and he sang,
And he's awa' tae his maister dear,
As fast as he could gang.
C'wa, c'wa, my maister dear,
I fear ye sleep ower lang.
There's no' a cock in a' the land
But had wappit his wings and crawn.
Glenkindie's ta'en his harp in hand,
He harpit and he sang;
And when he cam' to the lady's bower
He chappit wi' his hand.
He chappit at the lady's bower
And tirled at the pin;
Rise up, rise up, my bonnie may,
O rise, and let me in!
O, wha is that at my bower door
That tirls at the pin?
Wha but Glenkindie, your ain true love?
O, rise and let me in.
O, hae ye left behind wi' me
Your harp or else your glove?
Or are ye come to me again
To ken mair o' my love?
Glenkindie swore a muckle oath
By airn, by oak, by thorn,
I was never in your chamber, lass,
Frae the day that I was born.
Then God forbit, the lady cried,
Sic shame should e'er betide,
That I should first be a wild loon's thing
And then a young knicht's bride.
Then she has ta'en her wee penknife
That hung doon by her gair,
My body's kent a man this nicht
But it shall ken nae mair.
Glenkindie's rode up yon high hill
As fast as he could gae,
C'wa, c'wa, noo, Jock, my man,
And I will pay your fee.
Then he has ta'en him, Jock his man,
And hangit him fu' high;
He's hangit him ower his ain yett
As high as high could be.
He's ta'en his harp intil his hand
Saw sweetly as it rang;
But wae and weary was to hear
Glenkindie's dowie sang.
His lady she was cauld and deid
And didna hear his mane;
And gin he harps till doomisday,
She'll never hear him again.
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6. |
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The Queen fell sick and very, very sick
She was sick and like to dee
And she sent for twa friars oot o' France
To come to her speedily.
The King has sent for the Earl Marshall,
And an angry man was he:
The Queen has sent for twa friars oot o' France
To shrive her presently.
It's ye'll put on the Greyfriar's goon
And I'll put on another;
And we will gang and shrive the Queen,
Two holy friars thegither.
O, God forbid, said the Earl Marshall
Sic and orra ploy should be;
Gin I beguile Queen Eleanor
I dout that she would hang me.
King Henry swore by the sun and the moon,
He swore by the Trinity;
He swore by his sceptre, he swore by his sword,
Earl Marshall he shouldnae dee.
When they cam' before the Queen,
The louted low til their knee;
What matter, what matter, our gracious Queen
That you've sent for us speedily?
O, I am sick and very, very sick,
I am sick and like to dee;
O, pray to God for my poor soul,
Some comfort gi'e to me.
Confess, confess! the King he cried,
Confess your sins to me!
Confess, confess! said the Earl Marshall
And ye shall pardoned be.
The first vile sin I ever did commit,
I'll tell to you the deed:
I played the whore wi' the Earl Marshall
When he got my maindenheid.
O, wasna that a sin and a muckle great sin?
I hope it will pardoned be.
Amen, Amen! said the Earl Marshall
And a very feart hairt had he.
The neisten sin that e'er I did
To you I will discover:
I poisoned fair Lady Rosamund
A' in fair Woodstock bower.
O, wasna that a sin and a muckle great sin?
And I hope it will pardoned be;
Amen, Amen! said the Earl Marshall
And a very feart hairt had he.
The neisten sin that e'er I did
The truth I'll tell to thee;
I carried a box seiven years in my breist
To poison King Henry.
O, wasna that a sin and a muckle great sin?
And I hope it will pardoned be.
Amen, Amen! said the Earl Marshall
And a very feart hairt had he.
O, see ye no' yon twa bonnie boys
As they play at the ba'?
The auldest is the Earl Marshall's son
And I lo'e him best o' a',
And the youngest is King Henry's son
And I dinna lo'e him at a'.
He's heidit like an orra bull,
He's backit like a bear.
Amen! cries the King in his ain voice
And I lo'e him a' the mair.
O, wae betide ye, Earl Marshall,
And an ill deith may ye dee;
Gin I hadna sworn by my sceptre and my croon
High hangit ye should be.
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7. |
Young Peggy (Child 298)
03:02
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Whaur hae ye been, Peggy,
Whaur hae ye been?
In the garden 'mang the gillyflooers
'Tween the hours o' twelve and ane.
Ye werena yoursel', Peggy,
No there your lane,
Your faither saw ye in Jamie's airms
'Tween the hours o' twelve and ane.
Whit through we were seen, mither,
Though we were seen?
I would sleep in Jamie's airms
Though his grave was growing green.
Your Jamie's a rogue, peggy,
Jamie's a loon;
For the trystin' o oor ae dochter
And her sae very young.
Jamie's no' to blame, mither,
The blame lies on me,
For I was sleep in Jamie's airms
Though a' the world should dee.
She's gane tae her ain chaulmer.
Jamie was there.
I'm blithe to see ye, Jamie dear,
Though we maun meet nae mair.
We'll tak a pairtin' glass, laddie,
Poor oot the wine,
And since we maun meet nae mair, my love,
We'll drink your health and mine.
Tak' me in your airms, laddie,
Here's kisses five,
And since we maun meet nae mair, my love,
We'll drink weel may we thrive.
Come to my airms, lassie,
Close tae my hairt,
And as lang's the sun hings i' the lift
I swear we'll never pairt.
Your faither keeps a crawin' cock
Divides nicht frae day.
And in the middle-watch o' the nicht
In greenwood ye'll meet me.
When mass was sung and bells were rung
And a' bound for bed,
She's kilted up her gay clothin',
Met Jamie in the wood.
Twas early in the mornin',
The clock chappit twa,
Her faither rose up in his bed
Cryin', Peggy, she's awa'!
They've mounted their horses
And fast they did run,
But lang ere they won tae the tap o' the hill,
The lad and lass were ane.
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8. |
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Johnny he promised he'd marry me.
I fear he's with some fair one and gone;
There's something that ails him and I don't know what it is,
But I'm weary of lying alone.
Johnny he came at the appointed hour,
Knocked on her window so slow;
This young girl arose and she hurried on her clothes
And she bid her true love welcome home.
She took him by the hand and she laid him down,
Found he was as cold as the clay.
She said, My dearest dear, if I only had my wish,
This long night would never turn to day.
Where is your soft bed of down, my love?
Where are your white holland sheets?
And where is the fair girl that watches over you
As you lie every night in your sleep?
The sea is my soft bed of down, he said,
Sand be my white holland sheet;
The little hungry fishes they do feed off of me
As I lie every night in the deep.
Then, O, my little cock, my handsome little cock,
Don't crow till 'tis long after day;
Your cage it will be of the purest beaten gold
And your door of the sweet ivory.
But him a-being young, he crowed so very soon,
Crowed three long hours before day;
This young man arose, and he hurried on his clothes
Farewell, love, for I must go away.
When will you come back again, my love,
When will you come back again?
When little fishes fly and the seas they do run dry,
And the hard rocks do melt in the sun.
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9. |
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Young Johnson and young Connel
They sat drinking at the wine;
Gin ye wad marry my sister
It's I wad marry thine.
I wadnae marry your sister
For your houses and your land
But I'll keep her for my leman
Whe I come over the strand.
I wadnae marry your sister
For a' your gowd sae gay!
But I'll keep her for my leman
When I come by this way.
Young Johnson had a little wee sword
Hung low doon by his gair;
And he stabbed it through young Connel's hairt
And word he ne'er spak' mair.
Then he's awa' tae his sister's bower
And tirled at the pin;
Whaur hae ye been, my brither dear,
Sae late as ye come in?
I hae been at the school, sister,
Learnin' young clerks tae sing.
I dreamed a dreary dream this nicht
I dout it means nae gude;
I dreamed the ravens tore your flesh
And the wolves did drink your blood.
ae dream o' blood, my sister dear,
I dout means muckle ill;
For I hae slain young Connel
And they're seekin' me to kill.
If ye hae slain young Connel
Then ye'll get nae help fae me;
May wolves and ravens tear your flesh
As you hing on the gallows-tree.
Then he's awa' tae his true love's bower
And tirled at the pin;
Whaur hae ye been, young Johnson,
Sae late as ye come in?
I hae been at the school, my love,
Learnin' young clerks tae sing.
I dreamed a dreary dream this nicht
I dout it means nae gude.
They were seekin' ye wi' hawks and hounds
And the wolves did drink your blood.
Hawks and hounds they may seek me,
As I trow weel they be;
For I hae killed young Connel,
The ae brither was he.
Gin ye hae slain my ae brither,
Alas and wae is me!
But gin your body's free frae wounds
The easier I will be.
Lie doon, lie doon, then, young Johnson,
Lie doon and tak' your sleep;
It's ower this chaulmer I will watch,
Thy fair body to keep.
He hadnae slept within' that bower
An hour but barely three,
When four-and-twenty belted knichts
Did seek his fair body.
And when they cam' unto the gate
Unto her they did say:
O did you see yon bloody knicht
As he rode by this way?
Whit colour was his hawk, she said,
Whit colour was his hounds?
Whit colour was his gallant steed
That bore him frae the toon?
O, bloody, bloody was his hawk
And bloody was his hounds;
But milk-white was the gallant steed
That bore him frae the toon.
Gin his hawk was red wi' blood,
And bloody was his hounds,
He's ower yon hill and far awa'
He's gane tae Embro toon.
They've turned their high horses' heids
And fast they rode awa';
And she's gane whaur young Johnson lay
And softly she did ca'.
Lie still, lie still, my young Johnson,
Lie still and tak' your sleep;
But he's ta'en up his twa'edged sword
And wounded her fu' deep.
Whit aileth thee, my young Johnson,
Some ill deith may ye dee!
First ye hae slain my ae brither
And noo ye hae slain me.
O live, O live, my ain true love,
O live but half-an-hour!
And the best doctor in Embro toon
Shall come within your bower.
How can I live? How shall I live?
Young Johnson, dinna ye see
The red draps o' my bonnie hairt's blood
Rin trinklin' by my knee?
Tak' aff, tak' aff my holland sark
And rive't frae gair tae gair;
And stap it in my bloody wound
That it may bleed nae mair.
Syne he's ta'en aff her holland sark,
And rive't frae gair tae gair;
And stapped it in her bloody wound
But aye it bled the mair.
Then he has ta'en his twa-edged sword
And leaned it on the ground,
And he has gi'en his ain body
A deep and deadly wound.
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10. |
Hind Horn (Child 17)
05:20
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Young man fair, young man free,
Where was you born and in what country?
In Ireland I was bred and born
Back to Ireland I will return.
When they was parting she give to him
Her heart's true love and a guinea gold ring,
When you looks at the ring and it's bright and true,
You know your lover is true to you.
If this ring he's bright and clear,
You know I'm constant to my dear.
But if this ring he's pale and wan,
Your lover's gone with another man.
He took ship and away went he,
Till he come to that strange country,
When he looked at the ring, it was pale and wan,
He knows she's gone with another man.
So he took ship and back sailed he
Till he come to his own country;
He was a-riding over the plain,
The first he met was the begging man.
What news, what news, what news? cried he,
Sad and sorry I'be to tell to thee;
Sad and sorry I'be to tell to thee,
Today is your true lover's wedding day.
You'll lend me your begging rig,
You'll put on my riding stage;
No, the begging rig's too poor for thee,
The riding stage too good for me.
Be it right, be it wrong,
The begging rig it will go on.
Now tell me as fast as you can,
What is the work of the begging man?
You may walk as fast as you will
Till you come to yonders hill,
But when you come to yonders gate,
Lean on your staff with a trembling step.
Beg fom Pitt, beg from Paul,
Beg from the highest to the lowest of all,
But from them all you need take none
Till you come to the bride's own hand.
He stepped on with a fine good will,
Till he come to yonders hill;
When he came to yonders gate,
Leaned on his staff with a trembling step.
The bride come trembling down the stair,
Gold rings on her fingers, gold bobs in her hair;
A glass of wine all in her hand,
All for to give to the begging man.
Out of the glass he drunk up the wine,
Into the glass goes a guinea gold ring;
Did you get it by sea? Did you get it by land?
Or did you get it from a drowned man's hand?
Neither did I get it by sea or land,
Neither did I get it from a drowned man's hand -
I got it from my love in a courting way,
I give it to my love on her wedding day.
Gold rings from her finmgers she did let fall,
Gold bobs from her hair she throwed agin the wall,
I'll follow you for evermore
Though I'm begging from door to door.
He that was blackest among them all
Now shines the fairest in the hall.
He that was single at the break of day,
Stole the bride from the groom away.
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11. |
Eppie Morrie (Child 223)
03:45
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Four-and-twenty Hielan' men
Cam' frae the Carron Side,
To steal awa' Eppie Morrie
For she wadna be a bride, a bride,
She wadna be a bride.
Then oot it's cam' her mither then,
It was a moonlicht nicht,
She couldnae see her dochter
For the water shine sae bricht, sae bricht,
The water shine sae bricht.
Haud awa' frae me, mither,
Haud awa' frae me!
There's no' a man in a' Strathdon
Shall wedded be with me, with me,
Shall wedded be with me.
They've taken Eppie Morrie, then,
And a horse they've bound her on,
And they hae rid to the minister's hoose
As fast as horse could gang, could gang,
As fast as horse could gang.
Then Willie's ta'en his pistol oot
And set it to the minister's breist,
O marry me, marry me, minister,
Or else I'll be your priest, your priest,
Or else I'll be your priest.
Haud awa' fae me, Willie,
Haud awa' fae me!
I daurna avow to marry you
Except she's willin' as thee, as thee,
Except she's willin' as thee.
Haud awa' frae me, good sir,
Haud awa' frae me!
There's no a man in a' Strathdon
Shall marrièd be by me, by me,
Shall marrièd be by me.
They've taken Eppie Morrie then,
Sin' better couldna be,
And they hae rid ower Carron Side
As fast as horse could flee, could flee,
As fast as horse could flee.
Then mass was sung and bells were rung
And the're awa' to bed,
And Willie and Eppie Morrie,
In ane bed they were laid, were laid,
In ane bed they were laid.
He's ta'en the sark from off his back
And kicked awa' his shoon,
And thrawn awa' the chaulmer key
And naked he lay doon, lay doon,
And naked he lay doon.
Haud awa' fae me, Willie,
Haud awa' fae me!
Before I'll lose my maidenheid,
I'll try my strength wi' thee, with thee,
I'll try my strength wi' thee.
He's kissed her on the lily breist
And held her shouthers twa,
Bye aye she grat and aye she spat
And turnèd tae the wa', the wa',
And turnèd tae the wa'.
Haud awa' fae me, Willie,
Haud awa' fae me!
Before I'll lose my maidenheid,
I'll fecht wi' you till day, till day,
I'll fecht wi' you till day.
A' through the nicht they warssled there
Until the licht o' day.
And Willie grat and Willie swat
But he couldna streitch her spey, her spey,
But he couldna streitch her spey.
Then early in the morning,
Before the licht o' day
In came the maid o' Scallater,
Wi' a goon and shirt alane, alane
Wi' a goon and shirt alane.
Get up, get up, young woman,
And drink the wine wi' me!
Ye micht hae ca'd me "maiden"
For I'm sure as hale as thee, as thee,
I'm sure as hale as thee.
Weary fo' you, Willie, then,
That ye couldna prove a man,
Ye micht hae ta'en her maidenheid,
She would hae hired your hand, your hand,
She would hae hired your hand.
Haud awa' fae me, lady,
Haud awa' fae me!
There's no a man in a' Strathdon
Shall wedded be with me, with me,
Shall wedded be with me.
Then in there cam young Breadalbane
Wi' a pistol on each side.
O, come awa', Eppie Morrie,
And I'll mak' you my bride, my bride,
And I'll mak' you my bride.
Gae get to me a horse, Willie,
Get it like a man,
And send me back to my mither
A maiden as I cam', I cam',
O a maiden as I cam'.
The sun shines over the westlin hills
By the lamplicht o' the moon,
O --- saddle your horse, young John Forsythe,
Just whistle and I'll come soon, some soon,
Just whistle and I'll come soon.
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12. |
Jellon Graeme (Child 90)
06:04
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Jellon Graeme sat in the wood
He whistled and he sang;
He called for his servant boy
Who quickly to him ran.
Hurry up, hurry up, my pretty little boy,
As fast as ever you can.
You must run for Rosy Flower
Before the day is gone.
The boy buckled on his yellow belt
And through the woods he sang.
Ran till he come to the lady's window
Before the day was gone.
Are you awake, little Rosy Flower?
The blood runs cold as rain;
I was asleep but now I'm awake,
Who's that that calls my name?
You must go to the Silver Wood
Though you never come back again.
You must go to the Silver Wood
To speak with Jellon Graeme.
I will go to the Silver Wood
Though I never come back again.
The man I most desire to see
Is my love, Jellon Graeme.
She had not rid about two long mile,
It were not more than three;
Till she come to a new-dug grave
Beneath that white oak tree.
Out and sprang young Jellon Graeme
From out of the woods nearby.
Get down, get down, you Rosy Flower,
It's here that you will die.
She jumped down from off her horse
Then down upon her knee.
Pity on me, dear Jellon Graeme,
I'm not prepared to die!
Wait until our babe is born
And then you can let me lie.
If I should spare your life, he said,
Until our babe is born,
I know your pa and all your kin
Would hang me in the morn.
Pity on me, dear Jellon Graeme,
My pa you need not dread;
I'll bear my baby in the Silver Wood
And go and beg my bread.
No pity, no pity for Rosy Flower
On her knees she pray;
He stabbed her deep with the silver steel
And at his feet she lay.
No pity, no pity for Rosy Flower
She was a-lying dead,
But pity he had for his little young son
A-smothering in her blood.
He's torn the baby out of the womb
Washed him in water and blood;
Named him after a robber man
He called him Robin Hood.
Then he took him to his house,
And set him on a nurse's knee;
He growed as much in the one-year-time
As other ones do in three.
Then he took him to read and write
And for to learn how to thrive.
He learned as much in the one-year-time
As other ones do in five.
But I wonder now, said little Robin
If a woman did bear me;
Many a mother do come for the rest
But never one come for me.
It fell out in the summertime
When they was a-hunting game.
They stopped to rest in the Silver Wood
Him and Jellon Graeme.
I wonder now, said little Robin,
Why my mommy don't come for me?
To keep me hid in the Silver Wood
I calls it a cruelty.
But I wonder now, said little Robin,
It the truth would ever be known?
Why all this woods is a-growing green
And under that tree there's none!
You wonder now, said Jellon Graeme,
Why your mommy don't come for thee;
Lo, there's the place I laid her low
Right under that white oak tree.
The little boy chose him an arrow
Was both keen and sharp,
Laid his cheek all along his bow
And pierced his father's heart.
Lie there, lie there, you Jellon Graeme,
The grave you never will see;
The place where lies my mommy dear
Is far too good for thee.
I should have torn you out of the womb
And thrown you upon a thorn!
Let the wind blow east and the wind blow west
And left you to die alone.
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Ewan MacColl London, UK
This site is maintained by the MacColl family, aiming to make Ewan's catalogue available to download.
Ewan MacColl is
known to most as a songwriter and singer, but he was also of significant influence in the worlds of theatre and radio broadcasting. His art reached huge numbers through the folk clubs, greater numbers through his recordings and untold millions through the radio.
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