Child was probably right in stating that this curious piece was the work of someone who was familiar with the first fit of Adam Bell (Child 116). "The anonymous 'old wife' becomes 'auld matrons'; Inglewood, Ringlewood. The conclusion is in imitation of the rescue in Robin Hood ballads." In his resumé of the story, Child writes: "The sheriff order a retreat and threatens, very illogically, to buth the old woman." Illogical or not, ir provides the ballad with its most potent stanza.
lyrics
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.
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....more
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