The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #145512 Message #3410394
Posted By: Mick Pearce (MCP)
26-Sep-12 - 09:03 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Child Ballads: US Versions Part 3
Subject: RE: Origins: Child Ballads: US Versions Part 3
Richie
I've had a listen to the Alabama version and here's what I've got. I've put the changes in bold. (I amended a few minor spelling errors too).
There are a few places I'm still not sure of. In particular the word I've given as try in v3. I'm sure it should be some cognate for swear/vow, but I can't get it; it still sounds like try. (A version of the song in Bronson from Utah has a version of this verse with swear in that position: "Come go with me, my pretty fair maid,/Come go with me, my honey,/I swear by the sword that hangs by my side/You never shall want for money.") I also can't quite decide if the We on the last line of the verse shoud be You but I think it sounds marginally more like We; I could be wrong!.
Mick
"Go fetch me out my iron-gray,
The brown ones not so speedy.
I'll ride all night and I'll ride all day,
Till I'll overtake my lady."
CHORUS: Rattle tum te dum dum
Tettle tum te dum dum
Tettle tum te dum
So i-dy.
He rode and rode till he came to the waters deep
It looked so deep and miry.
Till the tears came flowing down his cheeks
And ?saw?(?so?, ?thought?) he lost his lady.
CHORUS
Won't ya turn back my pretty little miss
Now won't ya turn back my honey.
I ?try? by the sword that hangs from my side
We never shall lack for money
I won't turn back my pretty little miss
I won't turn back your honey.
I'd rather take a kiss from gypson's lips,
Than you and all your money.
CHORUS
Pull off, pull of those high-heeled shoes,
That's made with Spanish leather.
Put on, put on those low-heeled shoes,
And we'll take a walk together.
I won't pull off these high-heeled shoes,
That's made with Spanish leather.
I won't put on those low-heeled shoes,
And I won't take a walk together.
CHORUS
Last night you lay on a feather bed
Your husband he lay by you
Tonight you lay on an old straw bed
With the gypson's all around you.
CHORUS