The Fause Knight upon the Road
Child 3
U: S = !shortphrase!
X:1
T:The False Knight
T:The Fause Knight upon the Road
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Version a) Motherwell, 1827, App'x No. 32 and p. xxiv
O:Version b) Moffat [I933], p24.
O:Same tune, but, as printed by Moffat, probably 
O:from Motherwell, to the words below, the note-lengths
O:are doubled, and the third and penultimate bars are com-
O:posed of even quarter-notes. Also, the cadence of the second
O:phrase is a half-note on A, followed by a quarter on B (if
O:transposed to the pitch above).
N:Child 3
M:2/4
L:1/16
K:Gmix
d2 | G2GG G2AB | c2>B2 A2 Bd |
w:O whaur are ye gaun, quo' the false* knight, And
f2>e2 d2>G2 | ({G}A2)G2G2 d2 | G2GG G2AB |
w:false* false**was his rede, I'm gaun to the scule says the
cdcB A2 Bd | f2>e2 d2G2 | G4 z2 |]
w:pretty* little* boy, and* still* still he stude
W:
W:Version a
W:O whaur are ye gaun, quo' the false knight,
W:And false false was his rede,
W:I'm gaun to the scule says the pretty little boy,
W:And* still* still he stude.
W:
W:
W:Version b
W:"O where are ye gaun to, my wee lad?"
W:(Quo' the False Knight on the road,)
W:"I'm gaun to the schule," said the bonnie, bonnie boy,
W:(And still, still he stood.)
W:
W:"And what is't ye have upon your back?"
W:(Quo' the False Knight on the road).
W:"Atweel, it's my books," said the bonnie, bonnie boy,
W:(And still, still he stood.)
W:
W:"And what is that ye've in your arm?"
W:(Quo' the False Knight on the road).
W:"Atweel, it's my peat," said the bonnie, bonnie boy,
W:(And still, still he stood.)
W:
W:"Wha owns thae sheep upon the hill?"
W:(Quo' the False Knight on the road).
W:"They're mine and my mither's," said the bonnie, bonnie boy,
W:(And still, still he stood.)
W:
W:"How many o' them are mine, my lad?"
W:(Quo' the False Knight on the road).
W:"A' they wi' blue tails," said the bonnie, bonnie boy,
W:(And still, still he stood.)
W:
W:"I wish that ye were on yonder tree,"
W:(Quo' the False Knight on the road).
W:"Wi' a ladder under me," said the bonnie, bonnie boy,
W:(And still, still he stood.)
W:
W:"And the ladder to break below ye,"
W:(Quo' the False Knight on the road). r~
W:"And you to fa' down," said the bonnie, bonnie boy,
W:(And still, still he stood.)
W:
W:"I wish ye were now in yonder sea,"
W:(Quo' the False Knight on the road).
W:"Wi' a guid ship under me," said the bonnie, bonnie boy'
W:(And still, still he stood.)
W:
W:"And the ship for to break and sink wi' ye,"
W:(Quo' the False Knight on the road).
W:"And ye to be drownedI" said the bonnie, bonnie boy,
W:(And still, still he stood.)


X:2.
T:False Knight upon the Road
T:The Fause Knight upon the Road
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Creighton and Senior, Igio, p.Y Sung by Evelyn Richardson 
O:and Anne Wickens. Melody transcribed by Margaret Sargent.
N:Child 3
M:2/4
L:1/8
K:Glyd % Hexatonic ( -7) irregular (Bronson has Pi 1 + sharpened fourth)
C | G2 G>A | [M:3/4] G>G C>D G2 |
w:Oh where are you go-ing," said the False 
[M:2/4] G2 G>G | G2 G>A | [M:3/4] G4 G2 | [M:2/4] AA A2 |
w:Knight to the child in the road, I'm go-ing to
A2 G>A | B>B B>B | B2- B3/ E/ | D2 G2 | G2 G>G | G4 |]
w:school, said the pret-ty lit-tle girl,* But still she stood in the road.
W:
W:"Oh where are you going," said the False Knight
W:to the child in the road,
W:"I'm going to school," said the pretty little girl,
W:But still she stood in the road.
W:
W:"What do you go to school for?" said the False Knight,
W:to the child in the road.
W:"To learn to read," said the pretty little girl,
W:But still she stood in the road.
W:
W:"What do you learn to read for?" said the False Knight,
W:to the child in the road.
W:To keep me from hell," said the pretty little girl,
W:But still she stood in the road.
W:
W:"There is no hell," said the False Knight,
W:to the child in the road.
W:"I believe you lie," said the pretty little girl,
W:But still she stood in the road.


X:3
T:The False Fidee
T:The Fause Knight upon the Road
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Brewster, I940, pp. 29-30. Sung by Lucile Wilkin, Connersville, 
O:Ind., I935; learned from Mrs. Chester A. Porter.
N:Child 3
M:3/4
L:1/8
K:Gmix %  Pentatonic ( -6 -7) irregular (Bronson has I/M, compass of 1/5)
G4 Bc | d2 d-d Bc |
w:Where are* you go-ing? Said the
d4 Bc | d4 c2 | A3 z G2 | (4:3:B2 B2 B2 G2 |
w:False, fie, the False Fid-ee; I'm go-ing to my
B4 GB | B4 GA | B4 A2 | G4 z2 |]
w:school, Said the child, and there still she stood.
W:
W:"Where are you going?"
W:Said the False, fie, the False Fidee;
W:"I'm going to my school,"
W:Said the child, and there still she stood.
W:
W:"Whose sheep are those?"
W:Said the False, fie, the False Fidee;
W:"They're mine and my mother's,"
W:Said the child, and there still she stood.
W:
W:"Which one is mine?"
W:Said the False, fie, the False Fidee;
W:"The one with the blue tail,"
W:Said the child, and there still she stood.
W:
W:"There's nary a one with a blue tail,"
W:Said the False, fie, the False Fidee;
W:"And nary a one shall you have,"
W:Said the child, and there still she stood.
W:
W:"I wish you were in the bottom of the sea,"
W:Said the False, fie, the False Fidee;
W:"With a good ship under me,"
W:Said the child, and there still she stood.
W:
W:"I wish you were in the bottom of the well,"
W:Said the False, fie, the False Fidee;
W:"And you in the lowest depths of Hell,"
W:Said the child, and there still she stood.


X:4
T:The False Knight on the Road
T:The Fause Knight upon the Road
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Davis, 1929, p. 549; text, p. 6I. Sung by Mrs. Sarah
O:Finchum, Elkton, Va., November 23, I9I8. Collected by
O:Martha M. Davis.
N:Child 3
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:G % Pentatonic ( -4 -6) irregular
D2 GB dd Bd | d2 B2 G4 | GB d4 dA |
w:Where are you go-ing? said the false, false knight, Said the false so_
B6 DD | GG G2 B2 AG | F6 G2 | A6 B2 | G8 |]
w:rude. I am go-ing to school, said the child; And still it stood.
W:
W:"Where are you going?" said the false, false knight,
W:Said the false so rude.
W:"I am going to school," said the child;
W:And still it stood.
W:
W:"What have you got there?" said the false, false knight,
W:Said the false so rude.
W:"I have good books in my hand," said the child;
W:And still it stood.
W:
W:"Are you a child of God?" said the false, false knight,
W:Said the false so rude.
W:"I say my prayers at night," said the child;
W:And still it stood.
W:
W:"I wish you were in the well," said the false, false knight,
W:Said the false so rude.
W:"And you as deep in hell," said the child;
W:And still it stood.


X:5
T:The False Knight upon the Road
T:The Fause Knight upon the Road
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 3369/2466. Also in Sharp and Karpeles, 1932,
O:I, p. 3(A); and, with piano accompaniment, in Sharp, 1918,
O:p. 20. Sung by Mrs. T. G. Coates, Flag Pond, Tenn., September I, 19I6.
N:Child 5
N:1932 gives F# (i.e. transposed D natural) in tne antepenultimate bar.
M:2/4
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Heptatonic ( -6 +7#)
c | d2 cc | [M:3/4] d3 c AG |
w:The knight met a child in the 
G4 z |: d | G3 A/B/ A/A/G | G^F G2 cc |
w:road. O where are you go-ing to? said the knight in the
d3 c AG | F6 | G3 A/B/ AG |
w:road, (knight in the road) I'm a-*go-ing 
G^F G2 cc | d3 c AG | [M:2/4] G3 c |
w:to my school, said the child as he* stood. He
[M:4/4] d2 gg f2 fd | c3/ d/ d A/G/ F4 | [M:3/4] G3 A/B/ AG |
w:stood and he stood and it's well be-cause he* stood. I'm a-*go-ing
G^F G2 cc | d3 c AG | G4 z :| 
w:to my school, said the child as he* stood.
W:
W:The knight met a child in the road. 
W:O where are you going to? said the knight in the road.
W:I'm a-going to my school, said the child as he stood.
W:He stood and he stood and it's well because he stood.
W:I'm a-going to my school, said the child as he stood.
W:
W:O what are you going there for?
W:For to learn the Word of God.
W:
W:O what have you got there?
W:I have got my bread and cheese.
W:
W:O won't you give me some?
W:No, neter a bite nor crumb.
W:
W:I wish you was on the sands.
W:Yes, and a good staff in my hands.
W:
W:I wish you was in the sea.
W:Yes, and a good boat under me.
W:
W:I think I hear a bell.
W:Yes, and it's ringing you to hell.


X:6
T:The False Knight upon the Road
T:The Fause Knight upon the Road
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 3426/25I6. Also in Sharp and Karpeles, 1932,
O:I, p. 4(B). Sung by Mrs. Jane Gentry, Hot Springs, N.C.,
O:September 12, I9I6.
N:Child 3
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -6 -7) irregular 
G2 | B2 AB GG Ac | B2 AB G2 DD |
w:
DD GG A2 Bd | c2 AB G3 d | d2 dd g3 B |
w:
cc cc A3 G/A/ | BB Bc d2 GA | B2 cA G2 |]
w:
W:
W:Where are you going?
W:Says the knight in the road.
W:I'm a-going to my school,
W:Said the child as he stood.
W:He stood and he stood,
W:He well thought on he stood.
W:I'm a-going to my school
W:Said the child as he stood.
W:
W:What are you eating?
W:I'm a-eating bread and cheese.
W:
W:I wish'd you was in the sea.
W:A good boat under me.
W:
W:I wish'd you was in the well.
W:And you that deep in hell.


X:7
T:The False Knight upon the Road
T:The Fause Knight upon the Road
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Emrich, LC/AAFS, Album XXI, rec. 104A-2. Sung by Mrs. Maud 
O:Long of Hot Springs, N.C.; recorded in Washington, D.C., I947.
H:Mrs. Long is the daughter of Mrs. Jane Gentry, and learned this
ballad from her mother. Cf. the preceding variant.
N:Child 3
M:C|
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -6 -7) irregular 
d | B2 cc G2 Ac | B2 AA G3 G |
w:Where are you go-ing? said the knight in the road. I'm
DDGG A2 Bc | dcAB G3 d | d2 dd g3 B |
w:go-ing to my school, said the child* as he stood. He stood and he stood, he
cccc A3 A | BABc d2 GA | B2 cA G3 :|
w:well thought on, he stood, I'm go-ing to my school," said the child as he stood.
W:
W:"Where are you going?" said the knight in the road.
W:"I'm going to my school," said the child as he stood.
W:He stood and he stood, he well thought on, he stood,
W:"I'm going to my school," said the child as he stood.
W:
W:"Oh, what do you study there?" said the knight in the road.
W:"We learn the word of God," said the child as he stood.
W:He stood and he stood, he well thought on, he stood,
W:"We learn the word of God," said the child as he stood.
W:
W:"Oh, what are you eating there?" said the knight in the road.
W:"I'm eating bread and cheese," said the child as he stood.
W:
W:"Oh, won't you give me some?" said the knight in the road.
W:"No, nare a bite nor crumb," said the child as he stood.
W:
W:"I wish you were in the sea," said the knight in the road.
W:"A good boat under me," said the child as he stood.
W:
W:"I wish you were in the sand," said the knight in the road.
W:"A good stad in my hand," said the child as he stood.
W:
W:"I wish you were in a well," said the knight in the road.
W:"And you that deep in Hell," said the child as he stood.

X:8
T:The Fause Knight upon the Road
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Child, I882-98, V, p. 4II; text, I, p. 485. Sung by Miss M.
O:Macmath; learned from Jane Webster, Airds of Kells, Galloway.
N:Child 3
M:2/4
L:1/8
K:Em % Hexatonic ( -6) Dorian/Aeolian
d | dB BB | A2 Bd | e2 ed |
w:
ef ge | dB BB | A2 Bd | e2 ed | efg |]
w:
W:
W:"O whare are ye gaun?"
W:Says the false knight upon the road:
W:"I am gaun to the schule,"
W:Says the wee boy, and still he stood.
W:
W:"Wha's aught the sheep on yonder hill?"
W:"They are my papa's and mine."
W:
W:"How many of them's mine?"
W:"A' them that has blue tails."
W:
W:"I wish you were in yonder well:"
W:"And you were down in hell."


X:9
T:False Knight Upon the Road
T:The Fause Knight upon the Road
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Creighton, I932, pp. I-2. Sung by Mr. Faulkner and Mr
O:Ben Henneberry, Devil's Island, Nova Scotia.
N:Child 3
M:2/4
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Hexatonic ( -4) irregular
G2 E2 | DDDD | G2 GG | BBBB |
w:Oh, what have you in your bag? O, what have you in your
B2 A2 | GG G2 | E2 DD | G2 BB |
w:pack?_ Cried the false knight to the child on the
A3 G | GG G2 | E2 DD | G2 BB |
w:road. I have a little primer and a bit of bread for
dd Ige | dBBB | B2 GA | B"rit."G G2 |
w:din-ner, Cried the pret-ty lit-tle child on-ly sev-en years
G3 || Ig | edef | g2 dd | edef |
w:old. Hi did-dle dee-dle dum, dee-dle did-dle dee-dle
g3 z | egef | gfge | dB AG |
w:dum, Dee-dle dee-dle dee-dle did-dle, dee-dle dee-dle
A3 g | edef | g2 dd | edef |
w:dum, Diddle did-dle did-dle dee, dee-dle dee-dle dee-dle
g2 fe | dBBB | BAGA | B2 "rit."G2 | G3 z |]
w:dum, Did-dle did-dle did-dle dee-dle did-dle dee de dum.
W:
W:"Oh, what have you in your bag? O, what have you in your pack?"
W:Cried the false knight to the child on the road.
W:"I have a little primer and a bit of bread for dinner,"
W:Cried the pretty little child only seven years old.
W:
W:Chorus
W:
W:Hi diddle deedle dum, deedle diddle deedle dum,
W:Deedle deedle deedle diddle, deedle deedle dum,
W:Diddle diddle diddle dee, deedle deedle deedle dum,
W:Diddle diddle diddle deedle diddle dee de dum.
W:
W:"What is rounder than a ring? What is higher thana king?"
W:Cried the false knight to the child on the road.
W:"The sun is rounder than a ring. God is higher thana king,"
W:Cried the pretty little child only seven years old.
W:
W:Chorus
W:
W:"What is whiter than the milk? What is softer than the silk?"
W:Cried the false knight to the child on the road.
W:"Snow is whiter than the milk. Down is softer than the silk,"
W:Cried the pretty little child only seven years old.
W:
W:Chorus
W:
W:"What is greener than the grass? What is worse than women coarse?
W:Cried the false knight to the child on the road.
W:"Poison is greener than the grass. The devil's worse than women coarse,"
W:Cried the pretty little child only seven years old.
W:
W:Chorus
W:
W:"What is longer than the wave?* What is deeper than the sea?"
W:Cried the false knight to the child on the road.
W:"Love is longer than the wave. Hell is deeper than the sea,"
W:Cried the pretty little child only seven years old.
W:
W:Chorus
W:
W:"Oh, a curse upon your father and a curse upon your mother,"
W:Cried the false knight to the child on the road.
W:"Oh, a blessing on my father, and a blessing on mymother,"
W:Cried the pretty little child only seven years old.
W:
W:Chorus
W:
W:*Or, "way.,'
W:Mrs. Creighton's note: "The singer dances to the chorus."


X:10
T:The False Knight on the Road
T:The Fause Knight upon the Road
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Flanders and Olney, I953, pp. 46-47. Sung by Mrs. E.
O:Sullivan, Springfield, Vt., September 2T, I932; learned in
O:childhood in Ireland. From Ballads Migrant in New England, 
O:edited by Helen Hartness Flanders and Marguerite
O:Olney; copyright I953 by Helen Hartness Flanders.
N:How the last two stanzas are adjusted in the singing is 
N:not made clear by tbe editors.
N:Child 3
M:2/2
L:1/8
K:G % Hexatonic ( -4) Lydian/Ionian
d4 | d4 g2 e2 | d2 d2 B2 B2 | B4 B4 |
w:O where are you go-ing? Said the false, false
B4 G2 G2 | B4 A2 A2 | A4 G2 G2 | G2 G2 B2 D2 |
w:knight to the child on the road. I am go-ing to my 
g4 f2 e2 | d2 d2 G4 | A2 A2 G4 | G8 | z4 |]
w:school, Said the pret-ty boy sev-en years old.
W:
W:"O where are you going?"
W:Said the false, false knight to the child on the road.
W:"I'm going to my school,"
W:Said the pretty boy seven years old.
W:
W:"What have you got in your woolen?" (school bag)
W:Said the false, false knight to the child on the road,
W:"My books and my dinner,"
W:Said the pretty boy seven years old.
W:
W:"Who owns all those cows on the hill?" etc.
W:"Me and my mamma," etc.
W:
W:"How many of them are mine?" etc.
W:"As many as have no tail," etc.
W:
W:"Who taught you so well?" etc.
W:"My teachers and my mamma," etc.
W:
W:"What did they teach you so well for?" etc.
W:"To keep me from you and from your wicked Hell,"
W:And he bowed seven times on the road.
W:
W:"Bad luck to your teacher that taught you so well"
W:Said the false, false knight to the child on the road.
W:"Good luck to the teacher that kept me from you
W:And from your wicked Hell,"
W:Said the pretty boy seven years old.