Lyr Req: Jack Beck's Sir Patrick Spens

Subject: Lyr Req: SIR PATRICK SPENS (from Jack Beck)
From: Roberto
Date: 14 Mar 04 - 10:16 AM

I'd like to get the text of Sir Patrick Spens as sung by Jack Beck, on Half Ower, Half Ower tae Aberdour, Tradition Beares Series LTCD 1006. I can get most of the words, but the main problem is in stanza 9, although I'd like someone to check the whole transcription as well.
Thank you. Roberto
^^
The King sits in Dunfermline toon
Drinkin' the blood-red wine
Saying ? Whaur can I find a skeely skipper
Tae sail this ship o' mine?

It's up then spak' an elderly knicht
Sat by the King's richt knee:
Oh, Sir Patrick Spens is the skeeliest skipper
That sailed upon the sea

The King he wrote a braid letter
And sealed wi' his hand
And sent it tae Sir Patrick Spens
A-walkin' on the strand

Tae Norowa', tae Norowa'
Tae Norowa' ower the faem
Oh, the King's dochter frae Norowa'
It's ye maun bring her hame

Noo, the firsten word Sir Patrick read
A loud loud laugh laughed he
But the neisten word that Sir Patrick read
Oh, the sault tears blind his ee

Oh, wha has done this deed ? He said
This deadly deed tae me
Tae send me oot at sic a time
Tae sail upon the sea?

They hadna been in Norowa'
A week but scarcely three
When the highest lords in the King's ain court
Did turn richt roond tae say:

Oh, these Scotsmen they do drink oor wine
And our gowd spend quite free
Tae Norowa' they sail their ship
With ne'er a penny fee

Ye're liars aloud ? Sir Patrick cried
Ye're liars aloud ? cried he
Oh, there's twenty thousand pen (??????) silver- cried he
And the dowry I brought with me

I'll sail this nicht, this very nicht
I'll sail richt ower the faem
I'll mak' my way tae fair Scotland
And I'll bring young Margaret hame

Busk, oh busk, my merry men
Oor ship maun sail at dawn -
Oh, say na sae, my captain dear
I fear a deadly storm

For I saw the new moon late yestreen
With the old moon in her airms
And I fear, I fear, my captain dear
I fear we'll come tae harm

They sailed awa' frae Norowa'
They sailed richt ower the faem
For they were bound for Dunfermline Town
For to bring young Margaret hame

Oh lang, lang, may their ladies sit
With their gowd kems in their hand
Ere they see the great Sir Patrick Spens
Come sailing tae the land

Half ower, half ower tae Aberdour
And fifty fathoms deep
Oh there lies the great Sir Patrick Spens
With the Scots lairds at his feet

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jack Beck's Sir Patrick Spens
From: GUEST, NOMADman
Date: 14 Mar 04 - 12:20 PM

Hi Roberto,

This one's a bit difficult to pick out. To me it just sounds like "There's twenty thousnd in silver cried he."

Regards,
John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jack Beck's Sir Patrick Spens
From: GUEST,Jack Beck
Date: 22 Mar 04 - 02:46 PM

The verse is

Ye're liars aloud – Sir Patrick cried
Ye're liars aloud – cried he
Oh, there's twenty thousand in silver- cried he
In the dowry I brought with me

Some of these verses came from Duncan Williamson - his full version can be heard on a cassette called 'Put another Log on the Fire'(Veteran Tapes - I think)

Cheers, Jack

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jack Beck's Sir Patrick Spens
From: GUEST, NOMADman
Date: 22 Mar 04 - 11:06 PM

Can't beat that for a source. Thanks for the post, and for the great performance of this ballad, Jack.

Regards,
John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jack Beck's Sir Patrick Spens
From: Roberto
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 03:38 AM

Thank yuo very much, Jack Beck. Roberto

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jack Beck's Sir Patrick Spens
From: GUEST,Jack Beck
Date: 17 Sep 04 - 04:40 PM

Sorry for the extreme delay, but - thanks for your complimentary comments about my rendition of 'Sir Patrick Spens'. It was a tentative combination of the version everyone knows and the one Duncan sings. He lives near where I lived most of my life (till a year ago) in Fife. He is a dear friend and probably has the best 'living' traveller repertoire of songs and ballads!

He also has a tremendous knowledge of traditional crafts, remedies and riddles. Quite the man!

I've no idea who or where you are - can you fill me in?

Jack

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jack Beck's Sir Patrick Spens
From: GUEST,Jack Beck
Date: 17 Sep 04 - 04:45 PM

Whoops - that last message was to NomadMan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jack Beck's Sir Patrick Spens
From: GUEST, NOMADman
Date: 17 Sep 04 - 09:28 PM

Hi Jack,

I'm in Connecticut in the USA. The sobriquet comes from a traditional dance and music festival we present here in the Fall - NOrtheast Music, Art and Dance), Nov. 6-7 this year. I do the publicity.

I'm also doing an occasional folk radio program on a local college station and have taken on the task of presenting recordings of as many Child ballads as I can find - in numerical order - two or three ballads per show. I've been at it for three and a half years, and I'm now up to #183 - Willie MacIntosh. I'm learning an awful lot about Scottish history doing this, something I never thought about before. I was really pleased to present your recording of Sir Patrick Spens. I'm making good use of the Tradition Bearers series. It's quite a valuable resource.

Regards,
John