The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #66006   Message #1093141
Posted By: Roberto
15-Jan-04 - 04:05 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: june tabor's Young Allan (Child 245)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: june tabor's Young Allan (Child 245)
Now I've reached a complete text, but with some doubts, especially on the 15th and 4th stanzas.

All the skippers in Scarsburgh
Sat drinking at the wine
They fell to boasting one by one
Unlucky was the time

And some there praised their hawk, their hawk
And some there praised their hound
But Young Allan he praised his comely cog
That lay upon the strand

There's not a ship in Scarsburgh
Can sail along with mine
Except it be the Burges Black
Or the Small Cordvine

There's not a one among you a'
Can sail along with me
But the comely cog o Hecklandhawk
And the Flower o Germanie
And the Black Snake o Leve London
They a' can outsail me (?)

Then it's up and spoke a little wee boy:
So loud I hear you lie
My master has a coal-carrier
Can take the wind from thee

For she'll sail in at your foremast
And out at your fore-lee
And nine times in a winter's night
She'll take the wind from thee

And it's then they fell to wagering
Full fifty tuns of wine
And aye as much o' the good black silk
Would clothe their ladies fine

But they had not sailed a league, a league
A league but barely three
When through the side of the bonny ship
They saw the green walled sea

Then Young Allan he cried and he wrung his hands
For he knew not what to do      
The wind is loud and the waves are proud
We'll all sink in the sea

O where can I get a little wee boy
Will take my helm in hand?
And who will steer my bonny ship
And bring it safe to the land?

I'll give him the half of all me gold
And a third part of me land
And if he'll bring us safe ashore
I'll give him me daughter Ann

O here am I, the little wee boy
Will take your helm in hand
And I will steer your bonny ship
And bring it safe to the land

Take fifty ells of the canvas broad
And wrap it all around
And as much of pitch and as much of tar
To make her hale and sound

Spring up, spring up, me bonny ship
And bring us safe to land
For every iron nail in you
With silver you shall have ten
And where you want an oaken bolt
I'll beat the red gold in

Now the ship she listened all the while
And hearing of her hire
She sprang as fast oot (?) the salt salt sea
As sparks do from the fire

And the first land they came upon
'Twas bonny Aberdeen
The pipes and drums did sweetly play
To welcome Young Allan in

O bring to me the little wee boy
That took my helm in hand
And who did steer my bonny ship
And bring it safe to the land

I'll give him the half of all me gold
And a third part of me land
And since he brought us safe ashore
I'll give him me daughter Ann

O, here am I, the little wee boy
That took your helm in hand
'Thoug I'll have none of your land or gold
I'll wed your daughter Ann

Forty ships went out that night
Forty ships and five
But none of one of them come back
But Young Allan and I