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