Lyrics & Knowledge Personal Pages Record Shop Auction Links Radio & Media Kids Membership Help
The Mudcat Cafesj



User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
Richie Origins: James Madison Carpenter- Child Ballads 3 (135* d) RE: Origins: James Madison Carpenter- Child Ballads 3 13 Jul 18


Hi,

Here's the chapbook text from National Library of Scotland:

Tragical ballad of Lord John's murder,
Together with The cruel brother. Glasgow:
Printed for the booksellers, [1840-1850?].

THE CRUEL BROTHER.

There was three ladies play’d at the ba'
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
There came a knight, and play’d o’er them a’,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

The eldest was baith tall and fair,
W ith a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
But the youngest was beyond compare,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

The midmost had a gracefu’ mien,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
But the youngest look’d like beauty’s queen.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

The knight bow’d low to a’ the three.
With a heigh-ho ! and a lily gay;
But to the youngest he bent his knee.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

The lady turned her head aside.
With a heigh-ho: and a lily gay;
The knight he woo’d her to be his bride.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

The lady blush’d a rosy red,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
And said, “ Sir knight, I’m o’er young to wed,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.”

“O, lady fair, give me your hand,
With a heigh ho! and a lily gay;
And I’ll mak’ you lady of a’ my land,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.”

"Sir knight, ere you my favour win,
With a heigh ho! and a lily gay;
Ye maun get consent frae a’ my kin’,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.”

He has got consent frae her parents dear,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
And likewise frae her sisters fair,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

He has got consent frae her kin each one,
With a heigh ho! and a lily gay;
But forgot to spear at her brother John,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

Now, when the wedding-day was come,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
The knight would take his bonnie bride home,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

And many a lord and many a knight,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
Came to behold that lady bright,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

And there was nae man that did her see.
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
But wished himself bridegroom to be.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

Her father dear led her down the stair.
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
And her sisters twain thev kiss’d her there
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

Her mother dear led her through the close.
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
And her brother John set her on the horse.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

She lean’d her o’er the saddle bow,
W ith a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
To give him a kiss ere she did go,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

He has ta’en a knife, baith lang and sharp,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
And stabb’d the bonnie bride to the heart
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

She hadna ridden half through the town.
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay.
Until her heart’s blood stained her gown.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

“Ride saftly on,” said the best young man,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
For I think our bonnie bride looks pale and wan,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.”

“0, lead me gently up yon hill,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
And I’ll there sit down, and make my will,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.”

”O, what will you leave to your father dear,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay?”
The silver shod steed that brought me here.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.”

“What will you leave to your mother dear,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay?”
“My velvet pall and silken gear.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.”

“And what will you leave to your sister Ann,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay?”
“My silken scarf and my golden fan.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.”

“What will you leave to your sister Grace,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay?”
“My bloody cloaths to wash and dress.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.”

“What will you leave to your brother John,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay?”
“The gallows-tree to hang him on,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.”

“What will ye leave to your brother John’s wife,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay?”
“The wilderness to end her life.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.”

This fair lady in her grave was laid,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
And a mass was o’er her said,
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

But it would have made your heart right sair,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;
To see the bridegroom rive his hair.
As the primrose spreads so sweetly.

* * * *

Richie




Back to the Main Forum Page

By clicking on the User Name, you will requery the forum for that user. You will see everything that he or she has posted with that Mudcat name.

By clicking on the Thread Name, you will be sent to the Forum on that thread as if you selected it from the main Mudcat Forum page.
   * Click on the linked number with * to view the thread split into pages (click "d" for chronologically descending).

By clicking on the Subject, you will also go to the thread as if you selected it from the original Forum page, but also go directly to that particular message.

By clicking on the Date (Posted), you will dig out every message posted that day.

Try it all, you will see.