The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #66674   Message #1109804
Posted By: GUEST,Martin Ryan
05-Feb-04 - 05:27 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: The Footboy (Canadian ballad)
Subject: ADD: The Little Penknife
Here's the version collected by James Foley, mentioned by Malcolm earleir in this thread:

The Little Penknife

It was in Armagh near the County Clare
A very rich farmer he did live there
He had a daughter of a beauty bright
And her father's coachman took her to great delight

As her old coachman walked out one day
These true words to his coachman say (sic)
"I have a lady, I think no crime
But I'll tell you more some other time"

As his servants walked in at noon
He called the young man in to a room
It was there he paid him his wages down
And his eyes filled up and the tears rolled down

He had scarce a mile been outside the town
When a ??? army did him surround
A golden watch and a diamond ring
Was in his company - he knew no thing

They marched him off then to Armagh jail
It was there he lay till his trial came on
Her father told her to go and see
Her true love die upon the gallows tree

This to do was a shocking sight
To see this young man all dressed in white
With fainting tears and the ladies' cries
"Let me kiss him once before he dies"

With the little penknife she held in her hand
Little her father then knew her plan
Saying "From that man I will never part"
And she shed (sic) the knife through her tender heart

It was there she lay bleeding and bleeding on
Saying "Father , father you have done the wrong
You have hung this young man that I do adore
And she closed her eyes and she said no more

So come all ye farmers both one and all
Of high or low or rich or poor
Your daughter's lost with your serving man
And I would have loved to deprive your plan.

These are taken from a booklet accompanying the tape. Part of verse 4 is illegible - I'll check the tape when I get a chance.

I'll add Foley's comments (which refer to the Edith Fowkes song as the only other version he knows of) later today.

Regards