Hi,

From James Madison Carpenter Collection, JMC/1/8/1/K, pp. 12032-12033. Missing stanzas between 2 and 3 plus the 'parrot" ending. Almost no dialect.

May Colzean - sung by John Sutherland of Balruddery, Latheron, Caithness, Scotland. Learned from his mother, Margaret Cumming Sutherland about 1870

1 Fause Sir John his a wooing came,
To a maid of beauty rare;
May Colzean was this lady's name
Her father's only heir.

2 He courted her up, he courted her down,
He courted her into the hall,
Until he got this maid's consent
To mount and ride awa'.

3. He rode on, and she rode on
As fast as they could gae;
Until they reached a lonesome part,
An hour before it was day.

4. "Light down, light down, thou May Colzean,
Light down, light down, said he;
Here I have drowned seven lady's fair
The eighth one thou shalt be."

5. "Put off, put off, your jewels fine,
Put off your silken gown,
They are too fine and costlie
To rot in the salt sea foam.

6. "If I put off my silken gown,
Look you to the leaf of the tree,
For it nevr became a gentleman
A naked woman to see."

7. He's turned himself right 'round about,
To the leaf far of the tree;
She's twined her arms around his waist
And thrown him into the sea.

8. "O help, O help now, May Colzean,
O help or else I drown.
I'll take you home to your father's ha',
And safely set ye down."

9. "No help, no help, thou Fause Sir John
No help or pity for thee;
Here hast thou frowned seven ladies fair,
The eighth hast drowned thee."

* * * *

Richie