Lyr Req: Trooper and Maid (from Dr Faustus)

Subject: Lyr Add: TROOPER AND MAID (from Dr Faustus)
From: Roberto
Date: 11 Apr 08 - 08:47 AM

Pleae, help me complete and correct this transcription. This recording of Trooper and Maid, by Dr Faustus, in the CD The First Cut, is clearly based on Child #299 D, but in English instead in Scots. The problems are in 6th and 7th stanza. Please, help.

A trooper lad came to our gate
And oh but he was weary
He rapped at and he chapped at
For the sake of his kind dearie

The bonnie lass being in the close
And the moon shone bright and clearly
You're welcome here, my trooper lad
You're welcome, my kind dearie

So she's taken the horse by the bridle reins
And led him to the stable
She's gived him corn and hay to eat
As much as he was able

She's taken the knight by the milk-white hand
And led him to her chamber
She's gived him bread and cheese to eat
And wine to drink his pleasure

Bonnie lassie, I'll lie near you now
Bonnie lassie, I'll lie near you
An' I'll gar all your ribbons reel
In the morning or I leave you

So soon to bed they did retire
And the knight soon ...(???) lay
The maid put off her little white smock
Crying, Laddie, are you ready?

It was all night that they did ...(?)
The floor it was a-creekin'
So rumpently (?) they roll ...(?)
There was no time for speaking

Well, the first time that the trumpet played
It was, Up, up and awa, man!
The next time that the trumpet played
Was, The morn's the battle-day, man!

Bonnie lassie, I must leave you now
Bonne lassie, I must leave you
But, if ever I come this way again
I will call in and see you

Well, it's bread and cheese for gentlemen
And corn and hay for horses
Pipes and tobacco for old wives
And bonnie lads for lasses

When will us two meet again?
When will we meet and marry?
When cockle-shells turn silver bells
No longer, love, we'll tarry

So he's taken his old grey cloak about him
And he's over the mountains fairly
Crying, Fare thee well, my bonnie lass
Farewell, my own kind dearie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr Faustus' Trooper and Maid
From: Roberto
Date: 12 Apr 08 - 02:40 AM

Just one refresh. The two CDs by Dr Faustus are, in my opinion, among the best new recordings of british traditional music in these last years: I can't believe no mudcatter knows them, and among these mudcatters, I still hope there is one that has spare time to listen to it and help me with the text of this Trooper and Maid... R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr Faustus' Trooper and Maid
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 12 Apr 08 - 02:59 AM

These two verses are:

So soon to bed they did retire
And the knight soon naked there lay
The maid put off her little white smock
Crying, Laddie, are you ready?

It was all night that they did romp
The floor it was a-creaking
So rampantly they rollicked on
There was no time for speaking.

Benji Kirkpatrick's mind is of such a smutty disposition that he has been known to add rude lines from different songs if he doesn't think the current ditty graphic enough already.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr Faustus' Trooper and Maid
From: Roberto
Date: 12 Apr 08 - 07:20 AM

Thanks a lot, Diane. R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr Faustus' Trooper and Maid
From: Roberto
Date: 12 Apr 08 - 07:32 AM

As for Benji Kirkpatrick's smutty disposition: in this case, I think is not so guilty, because Child D text is incomplete, and he had to fill in the missing part...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr Faustus' Trooper and Maid
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 12 Apr 08 - 07:39 AM

Oooooh! I'm tellin!
Sal x

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr Faustus' Trooper and Maid
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 12 Apr 08 - 03:17 PM

Don't know Dr Faustus (unless he was the one who was muckers with Old Nick and Helen of Troy), but I checked Child and Bronson for the verses and its strikes me that the version you have got to hand has been re-written by somebody who can't tell the difference between good clean bawdry and smut!
Jim carroll