| Download Midi File Lesley Nelson-Burns |
|
|
|
|
| This ballad apears in Jamieson's Popular Ballads (1806). Jamieson notes that the ballad was popular at that time. It appears in a manuscript by Alexander Fraser Tyler where it is noted as taken down from a Mrs. Brown of Falkland in 1800. There are variants of the ballad in Ireland, Portugal, Germany, Denmark and Norway .
John Jacob Niles collected this tune in 1932 from Kingdom Come Valley, Harlan County, Kentucky. (Note: Niles is known to have retouched or written several of the ballads in his book. He is therefore not considered a reliable source. I have included them here out of interest.) This ballad is an American variant of Child Ballad #11 (The Cruel Brother). Variants and alternate titles include: The Bride's Testament, Ther waur three ladies, The Three Knights and Fine Flowers in the Valley. For a complete list of Child Ballads at this site go to Francis J. Child Ballads. |
Three fine maids did play at ball, ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, Three fine maids did play at ball, Came three lords and wooed them all, ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay. The first young lord was dressed in yellow, Il-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, The first young lord was dressed in yellow, 'Come, fair maid, and be my marrow.' ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay. The second lord was dressed in red, ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, The second lord was dressed in red, The last of the lords was dressed in green, 'Come, fair maid, and be my queen.' ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, 'You must ask my father dear,' ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, 'You must ask my father dear, Mother, too, who did me bear.' ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, 'I have asked them one and all,' ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, 'I have asked them one and all, Save Sister Anne and Brother John.' ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, Father dear did lead her down, ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, Father dear did lead her down, Mother, sister kissed her crown. ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, John did place her on her steed ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, John did place her on her steed Ere he did the cruel deed. ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, 'Kiss me, Sister, ere you part.' ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, 'Kiss me, Sister, ere you part.' As he kissed, he stabbed her heart. ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, 'Would that I were on yonder stile,' ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, 'Would that I were on yonder stile, That I might rest and bleed a while.' ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, 'Carry me to yon little green hill,' ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, 'Carry me to yon little green hill, That I might rest and make my will.' ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, 'What will you give your father dear?' ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, 'What will you give your father dear?' 'The milk-white steed that carried me here.' ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, 'What will you give your mother own?' ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, 'What will you give your mother own?' 'She may have my blood-stained gown.' ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, 'What will you give your brother John?' ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, 'What will you give your brother John?' 'A gallow's pin to hang him on!' ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay, |
Additional Versions
|
|
| From
The Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles and The English and Scottish Popular Ballads See Bibliography for full information. |
|