Lady Isobel and the Elf Knight (incomplete - many more versions to be added)
Child 4
U: S = !shortphrase!
X:1
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isobel and the Elf Knight
B:Bronson
O:Baring-Gould MSS., CXIV(1); text, (A).  Also with
O:harmonisation in Baring-Gould and Sharp, "English Folk Songs
O:for Schools, n.d. p.26 (in Ab major).  Sung by James Parsons,
O:Lew Down, 1888.  Collected by S. Baring-Gould.
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:G
D | G2 FE D2 EF | G2 D2 B,3 G | G2 FE D2 EF |
w:An out-land-ish knight from the north-ern land, He said he* would mar-ry
G6 z A | B2 AG A2 c2 | B2 G2 D3 A |
w: me. He said he would take me to the far far
B2 AG A2 BA | G6 z d | d2 cB A2 Bc |
w:land And there would wed with me. O fetch me* some of your
d2 G2 d3 d | d2 cB A2 GA | B6 z d |
w:fa-ther's gold, and some of your moth-ers* fee And
G2 FE D2 EF | G2 D2 B,3 G | G2 FE D2 EF | G6 z |]
w:two of the best of your fath-er's nags That stand by* thir-ty and three.
W:
W:An outlandish knight from the northern land
W:He said he would marry me
W:He said he would take me to the far, far land
W:And there he would wed with me
W:
W:O fetch me some of your father's gold
W:And some of your mother's fee
W:And two of the best of your father's nags
W:That stand by thirty & three
W:
W:Then up & she mounts on her milk white steed
W:And he on his dapple grey
W:They rode till they came to the sea, sea side
W:Three hours before the day
W:
W:Light off, light off thy milk white steed
W:And deliver it unto me
W:For six pretty maids I have drowned here
W:And the seventh thou shalt be
W:
W:Pull off, pull off thy silken gown
W:And deliver it unto me
W:For I reckon it be too fine & gay
W:To rot in the salt, salt sea
W:
W:Pull off, pull off thy silken stays
W:And deliver it unto me
W:For I reckon it be too fine & gay
W:To rot in the salt, salt sea
W:
W:Pull off, pull off thy holland smock
W:And deliver them unto me
W:For I reckon they be too fine & gay
W:To rot in the salt, salt sea
W:
W:If I must pull off my holland smock
W:Pray turn your back on me
W:For it is not fit for a lady like me
W:A naked woman to be
W:
W:If I must pull off my holland smock
W:Pray turn your back on me
W:For it is not fit an outlandish thief
W:A naked me should see
W:
W:O then he turned his back on her
W:And looked upon green tree
W:That she might pull off her holland smock
W:And that her he might not see
W:
W:As he turned his back on the fair lady
W:A viewing the leaves so green
W:Then she caught him about his middle small
W:And thrust him into the stream
W:
W:He dropped high, he dropped low
W:Until he came to the side
W:Catch hold of my hand, my lady dear
W:I'll make thee my lawful bride
W:
W:Lie there, lie there thou false hearted man
W:Lie there instead of me
W:Six pretty maids hast thou drowned here
W:And the seventh hath drowned thee
W:
W:Then up she mounted her milk white steed
W:And she led the dapple grey
W:She rode till she came to her father's house
W:Two hours before the day
W:
W:The parrot was up in the window high
W:And laughed so shrill & did say
W:I'm afraid some ruffian here has been
W:And led my sweet lady away
W:
W:Don't prittle and prattle my pretty parrot
W:Nor tell any tales of me
W:Your cage shall be made of the glittering gold
W:Although it was made of a tree
W:Your cage shall be made of the glittering gold
W:And the door of ivory.


X:2
T:The Seven King's Daughters
T:Lady Isobel and the Elf Knight
B:Bronson
O:Arthur Kyle Davis jr. "Traditional Ballads of Virginia",
O:1929, pp. 551(Q) and 84 (Maxie).
O:Sung by Mrs Dan Maxie (neé Holland), Altavista, Va., March
O:23, 1914;  Learned from her mother.  Collected by Juliet Fauntleroy.
N:I can't align the words. S in the abc represents end-of phrase.
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
D2 | G2 D2 G2 A2 | B2 B2 AG E SD |
G4 A4 | G6 SB2 | d2 B2 d2 e2 |
B2 B2 AG SED | G2 G2 A2 BA | G6 z2 |]
W:
W:She picked him up so shyly,
W:She hauled him in the sea.
W:Lie there, lie there you false-eyed vilyun
W:Instead of me.
W:Six of the king's daughters you've drownded,
W:And the seventh one you shall be.

X:3
T:May Collean
T:Lady Isobel and the Elf Knight
B:Bronson
O:William Motherwell, "Minstrelsy: Ancient and Modern"
O:1827, Appendix 24.
N:Tune similar to "Lord Robert and Fair Ellen", Petrie collection
N:No. 795 from Dr Kelly, County Mayo.
N:Not enough words given to fit the tune.
N:Possibly each line is repeated?
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G
B | d2 d BAB | d2 e G2 SA |
B>cB AGA | G3 z2 :| Sd |
g2 f e2 e | f2 e/d/ B2 SB | g2 f e>de | d3 z2 SB |
d2 d BAB | d2 e G2 SA | B2 B AGA | G3 z2 |]
W:
W:O heard ye e'er o' a bloody knight
W:That lived in the West Countrie?
W:For he has stown seven ladies fair
W:And drowned them a' in the sea.


X:4
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isobel and the Elf Knight
B:Bronson
O:"The Outlandish Knight" Sharp MSS., Clare College
O:Library, Cambridge.  Also in C.J.Sharp, JFSS,
O:IV (1910), p.120(6).  Sung by Mrs Ware, Over Stowey,
O:Jan 23, 1907.
N:Tune related to minor form of "The Miller of Dee"
N:No words given in Bronson
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Gm
D | G2 G FGA | BcB A3 |
[M:3/8] c3 | [M:6/8] BAG DEF | G3-G2 D |
G2 G FGA | BcB A3 | [M:3/8] d3 |
[M:6/8] B2 G AGF | G3-G2 |]


X:5
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
T:Lady Isobel and the Elf Knight
B:Bronson
O: "Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight." Phillips Barry, JAF,
O:XVIII (1905), pp. I32-33. Also in Phillips Barry, Fannie
O:H. Eckstorm, and Mary W. Smyth, British Ballads from
O:Maine, 1929, p. 24(F). (Hopkinson) Sung by Miss Leslie W.
O:Hopkinson, Cambridge, Mass., May 3I, I904; from family tradition.
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:G
G>G | G2 GG G2 dd |
w:Pret-ty Pol-ly, she moun-ted her
B2 A2 G3 G | G3 G g2 d2 | a6 d2 |
w:milk-white steed, And he the ambl-ing gray, And
e3 f g3 e | de dc B2 d>d | e3 e d2 BA |
w:they came to the broad_ wa-ter side, Full an hour be-fore it was
G2 A2 HB2 d>d | e3 e d2 BA | G6 |]
w:day, day, day, Full an hour be-fore it was day.
W:
W:Pretty Polly, she mounted her milk-white steed,
W:And he the ambling gray,
W:And they came to the broad water side,
W:Full an hour before it was day, day, day,
W:Full an hour before it was day.
W:
W:"Now light you down, Pretty Polly," he said,
W:"Now light you down," said he,
W:"For six Pretty Pollies have I drownded here,
W:And the seventh you shall be."
W:
W:"Take off your clothes, so costly, so fine,
W:And eke your velvet shoon,
W:For I do think your clothing is too good,
W:For to lie in a watery tomb."
W:
W:"Won't you stoop down to pick that brier,
W:That grows so near the brim?
W:For I am afraid it will tangle my hair,
W:And rumple my lily-white skin."
W:
W:So he stooped down to pick that brier,
W:That grew so near the brim,
W:And with all the might that the Pretty Polly had,
W:She did tumble the false knight in.
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there false knight," she said,
W:"Lie there all in my room,
W:For I do not think your clothing is too good,
W:For to lie in a watery tomb!"
W:
W:Pretty Polly, she mounted her milk-white steed,
W:And led the ambling gray,
W:And she came to her father's stable door,
W:Full an hour before it was day.
W:
W:Then up and spoke her pretty parrot,
W:And unto her did say,
W:"Oh, where have you been, my Pretty Polly,
W:So long before it was day?"
W:
W:"Oh, hold your tongue, you prattling bird,
W:And tell no tales of me,
W:And you shall have a cage of the finest beaten gold,
W:That shall hang on the front willow-tree!"
W:
W:Then up and spoke her father dear,
W:And unto the bird did say,
W:"Oh, what makes you talk, my pretty parrot,
W:So long before it is day?"
W:
W:"The old cat came to my cage door,
W:And fain would have eaten me,
W:And I was a-calling to Pretty Polly,
W:To drive the old cat away."


X:6
T:The Outlandish Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:"The Outlandish Knight." Lucy E. Broadwood, JFSS, IV
O:(I910), p. 119(3). Also in Baring-Gould MSS., CXIV(5).
O:Sung by Mrs. Fletcher, near Liston, North Devon, September, 1893.
N:No lyrics in Bronson
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:G
G2 | G2 dd d2 e2 | cc A2 G2 Sgf |
ed cc AB c2 | d4 z2 Sdg | g2 fd ed dd |
ed dc cB G SB | dd e2 c2 A2 | G6 |]


X:7
T:The Outlandish Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:"The Outlandish Knight." Baring-Gould MSS., CXIV(3).
O:Singer unknown March 1891 noted by F.W.Bussell
N:No lyrics in Bronson
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:G
G2 | d2 d2 de cA | G2 GG G2 Sd2 |
e2 d2 f2 e2 | g6 Sd2 | g2 fe d2 ef |
g2 d2 B2 Sc2 | d2 ed c2 F2 | G6 |]


X:8
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:"The Outlandish Knight." Sharp MSS., I557/. Sung by
O:Mrs. Jarrett, Bridgwater January 7, I908.
N:No lyrics in Bronson
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:C
C | CEG GAG | FEF C2 SG |
ABc dcA | G3-G2 SE | "(a)"GAB c2 E |
"(b)"FGA G2 SC | CEG GFD | C3-C2 |]
%Variant bars:
%"(a)"GAB cEG ||"(b)"FEF G2 C ||


X:9
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 3140/?. Also in Sharp and Karpeles, "English Folk
O:Songs from thc Southern Appalachians",1932, I, pp. 7(C)-8.
O:Sung by Mrs. Moore, Rabun Gap, Ga., May I, 19IO. Collected by
O:Olive Dame Campbell.
N:Dot missing from the d in measure 1 in Bronson
M:3/2
L:1/8
K:G
D2 | (3G2 A2 B2 d6 (3efe | d2 d2 G6 G2 |
w:There was_ a pro-per__ tall young man, And
[M:2/2] c3 d e2 c2 | d6 d2 | d3 B/A/ G2 (3GBA | [M:3/2] G2 G2 D6 D2 |
w:Will-iam was his name; He came a_way ov-er the rag-ing sea, He
G2 AB d6 BA | G2 G2 D6 D2 | G2 AB d6 BA | G6 |]
w:came a_court-ing_ me, O me, He came a_court-ing_ me.
W:
W:There was a proper tall young man,
W:And William was his name;
W:He came away over the raging sea,
W:He came a-courting me, O me,
W:He came a-courting me.
W:
W:He followed me up, he followed me down,
W:He followed me in my room.
W:I had no wings for to fly away,
W:No tongue to say him nay.
W:
W:He took part of my father's gold,
W:Half of my mother's fee;
W:He took two of my father's stable steeds,
W:For there stood thirty and three.
W:
W:The lady rode the milk-white steed,
W:The gentleman rode the grey.
W:They rode all down by the north green land
W:All on one sumrner's day.
W:
W:Light off, light off, my pretty fair miss,
W:I tell you now my mind.
W:Six pretty fair maids I've drownded here,
W:The seventh one you shall be.
W:
W:Hush up, hush up, you old vilyun,
W:That hain't what you promised me.
W:You promised to carry me over the raging sea,
W:And then for to marry me.
W:
W:Turn your back and trim those nettles
W:That grow so near the brim;
W:They'll tangle in my golden hair
W:And tear my lily-white skin.
W:
W:He turned his back to trim those nettles
W:That growed so near the brim
W:This young lady with her skilfulness
W:She tripped her false love in.
W:
W:Lie there, lie there, you old vilyun,
W:Lie there in the place for me.
W:You have nothing so fine nor costly
W:But to rot in the salt water sea.
W:
W:First she rode the milk-white steed
W:And then she rode the grey.
W:She returned back to her father's house
W:Three long hours before it was day.

X:10
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., I822/. Sung by Charles Neville, East Coker, September 2, I908.
H:Sharp's MS. note: "In bar (b) Neville Junior invariably sang C#
[i.e., Bb in transposed text above] to his father's C natural [i.e., B] through-
out the song. In bar (c) they both varied the last note between E &
C# [i.e., D and B#]."
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:C % or Cmix, since the seventh is inflected.
C | CEG GAG | DED C2 C |
"(a)"FEF FGA | G3-G2 E/F/ | GAB cdc |
"(b)"_BGG FE C | "(c)"GAG FDD | C3-C2 |]
%Variant bars
%"(a)"FDF FGA ||"(b)"_BGE FEF ||"(c)"GAG FDB, | C3-C2 |]

X:11
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
T:The Outlandish Knight
O:Sharp MSS., 247I/. Sung by George Hartwell, Idlicote, April 29, I9I0.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Cmix
D | D2 G GAG | F2 E C2 SF |
GAB cBA | G3-G2 SF | "(a)"GAB c2 B |
AAG F2 SG | G2 G FED | C3-C2 |]
%Alternate endings
%"(a)"GAB c2 c | cAF G2 E | GAG FED | C3-C2 |]
%"(a)"GAB c2 c | G2 G A2 G | GAG F2 E | C3-C2 |]

X:12
T:An Outlandish Rover
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Vaughan Williams, JFSS, IV (I9IO), p. I2I (8). Sung by
O:Mr. Verrall, Horsham, December 22, I904.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Gmix
d | GGG cde | d2 d G2 SG |
AAA c2 c | d3 z2 Sd | def gdc |
BAG AB Sc | ded cBA | G3-G2 |]


X:13
T:The False-Hearted Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, "British Ballads from Maine",I929,
O:pp. 26(G)-28. Sung by Mrs. Guy R. Hathaway, Mattawamkeag, Maine,
O: I928; learned from her father.
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Gm % Bronson has Dorian
D2 | G3 B d3 c | B2 AB G2 d2 |
w:I'll tell you of a false heart-ed knight Who
g2 de f2 ec | d6 d2 | g2 de fe d>c |
w:cour-ted a la-dy_ gay, And all that he want-ed of this
B2 AB G2 GB | d2 dd dc BA | G6 |]
w:pret-ty fair maid Was to take her sweet life_ a_ way.
W:
W:I'll tell you of a false hearted knight
W:Who courted a lady gay,
W:And all that he wanted of this pretty fair maid
W:Was to take her sweet life away.
W:
W:"Go bring me some of your mamma's gold,
W:And some of your daddy's fee,
W:And away we'll ride to some foreign country
W:And married we shall be."
W:
W:She brought him some of her mamma's gold,
W:And some of her daddy's fee,
W:And two of the best horses in her father's stable,
W:Where there stood thirty and three.
W:
W:She then mounted the milk-white steed,
W:Apd he upon the grey,
W:They rode till they came to a fair river side,
W:Six hours before it was day.
W:
W:"Alight, alight, my pretty fair maid,
W:I have something to tell unto thee;
W:For it's six maidens fair I have drowned here
W:And you the seventh shall be."
W:
W:"Some pity, some pity, my own true love,
W:Some pity show unto me,
W:For of all the gold that I ever gave to thee,
W:I will double it over three."
W:
W:"Take off, take off your satin gown,
W:And give it unto me,
W:For I do think that your clothing is too gay
W:To rot in the watery sea."
W:
W:She then took off her satin gown
W:And laid it upon the ground,
W:And out of this fair lady's pocket
W:He took ten thousand pounds.
W:
W:"Go bring me the sickle, that I may crop the nettle
W:That grows on the river's brim,
W:That it may not entangle my curly, curly locks
W:Nor nettle my milk-white skin."
W:
W:He brought the sickle, that she might crop the nettle
W:That grew on the river's brim,
W:And with all of the strength that this fair maid had,
W:She pushed the false knight in.
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there, you false hearted knight,
W:For I think that you've got your doom,
W:And I do not think that your clothing is too gay
W:To rot in a watery tomb."
W:
W:"Some pity, some pity, my pretty fair maid,
W:Some pity show unto me:
W:For of all the vows that I ever made to thee,
W:I will double them over three!"
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there, you false hearted knight,
W:Lie there instead of me,
W:For it's six maidens fair you have drowned here,
W:And the seventh hath drowned thee."
W:
W:She then mounted the milk-white steed,
W:And home she led the grey,
W:She rode till she came to her father's stable door,
W:Three hours before it was day.
W:
W:The parrot being up in the chamber so high,
W:Hearing his mistress, did say:
W:"What is the matter, my own mistress,
W:That you tarry so long before day?"
W:
W:The maid being up in the chamber so high,
W:Hearing what the parrot did say:
W:"O! What is the matter, you silly parrot,
W:That you prattle so long before day?"
W:
W:"The cat she came to my cage door,
W:And would not let me be,
W:And I was obliged my own mistress to call
W:To drive the cat away."
W:
W:"Hold your tongue, my own parrot,
W:And tell no tales on me,
W:And your cage shall be made of the finest of gold,
W:And doors of ivory."


X:14
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:"The Outlandish Knight." Frank Kidson, "Traditional
O:Tunes", I89I, p. I72. Noted by Charles Lolley, Leeds.
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Gm % Hexatonic ( -7) irregular
G2 | G2 dd B2 cB | A2 BA G3 d |
w:An Out-land-ish knight from the North-lands_ came, And
d2 Bc d e2 c | d4 z2 d2 | g2 dd e2 d2 |
w:he came a-woo-ing to me: He prom-ised he'd take me
B2 cc d3 d | G2 dc B2 A2 | G6 |]
w:to the North-lands, And there he would mar-ry me.
W:
W:An Outlandish knight from the Northlands came,
W:And he came a-woo-ing to me:
W:He promised he'd take me to the Northlands,
W:And there he would marry me.


X:15
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 736/. Sung by Mrs. J. Southwood, Bridgwater, January I, I906.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G
D | GGG B2 A | GFE D2 D |
w:The out-land-ish knight came from the North-lands He
G2 A BBe | d3-d2 d | dcB ABc | BAG E2 G |
w:came a woo-ing of me* He said he would take me un-to the North Lands And
AFD DFA | c3-c2 c | BAG DFA | G3-G2 |]
w:there he would mar_ ry me* And there he would mar_ ry me.
W:
W:The outlandish knight came from the Northlands
W:He came a wooing of me
W:He said he would take me unto the North Lands
W:And there he would marry me
W:And there he would marry me.


X:16
T:The King's Daughter
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:"The King's Daughter." George W. Boswell, Tennessee
O:Foli Song Bulletin, XVII, No. 4 (December I95I), pp. 86-87.
O:Sung by Mrs. Jane Snodgrass Johnson, Nashville, Tenn.,
O:June ~4, I950; learned from her father, W. E. Snodgrass,
O:and brought perhaps from the vicinity of Mount Vernon, Va.
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
DD | G2 G2 B3 A | G2 E2 G2 GG |
w:He was mounted on a milk-white steed, And he
A3 A B2 e2 | d6 DD | [M:5/4] G2 GG g2 e3 d |
w:led a dapp-led gray, And he rode till he came to the
[M:4/4] ed B2 A2 G2 | A3 B AG E2 | G2 G2 B2 d2 | A3 B AG E2 | G6 |]
w:old_ king's house Six hours be-fore it was day, day, day, Six hours
be-fore it was day.
W:He was mounted on a milk-white steed,
W:And he led a dappled gray,
W:And he rode till he came to the old king's house
W:Six hours before it was day, day, day,
W:Six hours before it was day.
W:
W:He softly called the princess fair,
W:"Come ride abroad with me,
W:And I will take you to fair Scotland
W:And there I'll marry with thee, thee, thee,
W:And there I'll marry with thee."
W:
W:He rode upon the milk-white steed
W:And she the dappled gray,
W:And they rode till they came to the old salt sea
W:Three hours before it was day, day, day,
W:Three hours before it was day.
W:
W:"Get off your mount, my pretty fair maid,
W:And come stand here by me,
W:For here I've drownded the sixth king's daughter
W:And you the seventh shall be, be, be,
W:And you the seventh shall be.
W:
W:"Take off that gown, that Holland gown,
W:And lay it here by me,
W:For it's too fine and too costly
W:To rot in the old salt sea, sea, sea,
W:To rot in the old salt sea."
W:
W:"Oh, turn your face away from me
W:To the bright green leaves on the trees;
W:It never shall be said such a villain as you
W:A naked princess did see, see, see,
W:A naked princess did see."
W:
W:He turned his eyes away from her
W:To the bright green leaves on the trees,
W:And she picked him up so strong in her arms
W:And flung him into the sea, sea, sea,
W:And flung him into the sea.
W:
W:"Come help, come help, my pretty fair maid,
W:Forgive and succor me,
W:And I'll yet take thee to fair Scotland
W:And there I'll marry with thee, thee, thee,
W:And there I'll marry with thee."
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there, you false-hearted knave;
W:Lie there in room of me.
W:You'd have stripped me as naked as eter I was born,
W:And I ne'er took a stitch from thee, thee, thee,
W:And I ne'er took a stitch from thee."
W:
W:She mounted on the milk-white steed,
W:And she led the dappled gray,
W:And she rode till she came to her father's house
W:One hour before it was day, day, day,
W:One hour before it was day.
W:
W:Up spoke the old parrot from her cage door,
W:And loudly did she say:
W:"Where've you been, my pretty princess,
W:So long before it is day, day, day,
W:So long before it is day?"
W:
W:"Hush up, hush up, my pretty Polly;
W:Don't tell any tales on me,
W:And your cage shall be lined with a wind-beaten gold
W:Hung on yon willow tree, tree, tree,
W:Hung on yon willow tree."
W:
W:Up spoke the old king from his chamber,
W:From his chamber where he lay:
W:"Who are you calling, my pretty Polly,
W:So long before it is day, day, day,
W:So long before it is day?"
W:
W:"The old cat came to my cage door
W:For to devour me,
W:And I was calling my pretty princess
W:To drive the cat awav, 'way, 'way,
W:To drive the cat away."


X:17
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 345/. Sung by Mrs. Eliza Hutchings, Langport, August 22, I904.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G
D | GGG B2 A | GFE D2 B |
w:The out-land-ish knight came from the North Land He
cBc ABc | d3-d2 d | AAA cBA |
w:came_ a woo-ing of me* He said he would take_ me
G>FE D2 D | G>GG ABA | G3-G2 |]
w:to the North-land And there he would mar-*ry me
W:
W:The outlandish knight came from the North Land
W:He came a wooing of me
W:He said he would take me to the Northland
W:And there he would marry me


X:18
T:Lady Isabel
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Barry MSS., I, No. 4, B. Harvard College Library. Sung by Mrs.
O:George Ravois, Vineland, N.J., January 8, I907; learned from
O:her father, Robert O'Farrell, County S!igo.
N:At the end of the fourth phrase, Barry indicates "a flourish," but
N:without musical notation and without abbreviating the last note of
N:that phrase. The "flourish" took care of the words "oh brine."
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G
D | G2 G GAB | DDD D2 D |
w:Take off, take off_ this dress you have on. It
AAA BAB | d3-d2 d | ded dcc |
w:is of the silk_ so fine.* It is_ too good_ and
cdc cB A | GGG DEF |
w:cost-*ly far* To lie in the salt-*sea
G3-G2 A | GGG DEF | G3-G2 |]
w:brine,* To lie in the salt-*sea brine!
W:
W:"Take off, take off this dress you have on.
W:It is of the silk so fine.-
W:It is too good and costly far,
W:To lie in the salt-sea brine,
W:oh, brine,
W:To lie in the salt-sea brine!"
W:
W:"Take off, take off this petticoat you have on.
W:It is of the satin so fine.
W:It is too good and costly far,
W:To lie in the salt-sea brine."
W:
W:"Take off, take off this chemise you have on,
W:It is of the linen so fine,
W:It is too good and costly far
W:To lie in the salt-sea brine."
W:
W:"Oh, turn around and back about,
W:To view the green leaves of the tree,
W:It is not becoming for any young man,
W:A naked lady to see."
W:
W:He turned him round and backed about,
W:To view the green leaves of the tree.
W:She picked him up into her arms,
W:And plunged him into the deep.
W:
W:'0, give me a hold of your little finger,
W:And a fast, fast hold of your thumb,
W:There's not a promise that ever I made,
W:But I'll roll it in one bun!"
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there, you false young man,
W:Lie there instead of me" . . .
W:"Keep secrets, keep secrets, my pretty parrot,
W:Keep secrets this night unto me!" . . .
W:
W:"There's nine wild cats at my cage door,
W:. . . . . . . .


X:19.
T:The False Hearted Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Davis, "Traditional Ballads of Virginia", I929, p. ssr(R);
O:text, pp. 84-85. Sung by Mrs. Harrington,  Roanoke, Va.,
O:December I7, 1916. Collected by Alfreda M. Peel.
N:The opening of this variant may be compared with the Kidson
N:(1891) and Sandburg (1927) variants, X:63 and 64.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G % Hexatonic ( -4) Lydian/Ionian
G | G2 B d2 f | g2 f g2 e/e/ |
w:Now turn your back to me__ And your
def gfd | d3 d2 B/A/ | G2 B/A/ G2 B/A/ |
w:face to the leaves on the tree; Such a wicked man as thou'rt
GED G2 B | d3 BAG | GED G2 |]
w:isn't fit A naked woman to see.
W:
W:"Now turn your back to me
W:And your face to the leaves on the tree;
W:Such a wicked man as thou'rt isn't fit
W:A naked woman to see."
W:
W:And turning his back to her
W:And his face to the leaves on the tree,
W:She picked him up in her own strong arms
W:And threw him in the sea.
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there, false-hearted knight,
W:Lie there instead of me;
W:Three king's [sic] daughters you have drowned,
W:But I the fourth shan't be."
W:
W:And mounting on her own bay horse
W:And leading the dapple gray,
W:She then arrived at her father's house
W:One hour and a half before day.
W:
W:Her father hearing her come in
W:Got up, and thus did say:
W:"Who enters here, who enters here,
W:When 'tis so near to day?"
W:
W:The pretty parrot began to talk
W:And laugh so fitfully:
W:"The cat was before my little cage door
W:And about to have eaten me."
W:
W:The girl came up and thus did say
W:To the pretty parrot blithe and gay:
W:"O mistress Polly, you keep still
W:And tell no tales on me;
W:Your cage shall be made of beaten gold,
W:And hang on a willow tree."

X:20
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:A. Sharp MSS., 356/. Also in Sharp, JFSS, IV (I9IO), p.
O:I2I(7). Sung by Mrs. J. Chapman, West Harptree, Somerset,
O:August 25, I904.
O:B.Sharp MSS., I084/. Same singer, August 28, I906.
N:A and B are two tunes collected from the same singer.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G %A tune Hexatonic ( -4) Lyd/Ion, B tune heptatonic
P:A
d | dAB A/G/Gd | dAB G2 d |
w:An out-land-ish gent-le-man came from the North South a-
def gfe | d3-d2 d | ded/d/ gfe |
w:woo___ing with me* He told me he would tak-en me
ded BA G | GBd ABA | G3-G2 |]
w:un-to the North Land and then he would mar_ry me.
P:B
G | GBd AGd | dAB G2 G | GBd gfe |
w:An out-land-ish gentle-man came from the North South a- woo___ing with
[M:3/8]d2 d | [M:6/8] def gfg | edB cB c | ded AcB | G2 |]
w:me He told me he would take me un-to the North Land and then he would
mar_ry me.
W:
W:An outlandish gentleman came from the North South
W:a-wooing with me
W:He told me he would taken me unto the North Land
W:and then he would marry me.


X:21
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 486I/. Sung by Mrs. Barnard (57), Mitcheldean, September 6, I92I.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G
d | dBG GAG | BGA G2 G |
w:It was_ a cold_ Dec-em-ber morn-ing When
GBd gfe | d3-d2 d | edd g2 e |
w:he came a woo-ing of me* He prom-ised he'd take me
dBA G2 G | Age "(a)"dcA | G3-G2 |]
w:to the North land And there he would mar-*ry me.
%"(a)"dcd ||
W:
W:It was a cold December morning
W:When he came a wooing of me
W:He promised he'd take me to the North land
W:And there he would marry me.


X:22
T:The False-hearted Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, "British Ballads from Maine",
O:I929, pp. I9(C)-20. Sung by Mrs. A. W. (Barry) Lindenberg, Shirley,
Mass., I922.
N:In Bronson the second e in measure 5 is given as a quarter note.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G
B | d2 B d2 G | B2 A G2 d |
w:She mount-ed on her milk-white steed, And
eee efg | d3-d2 d | e2 e efg |
w:he on his dap_ple gray, And forth from her fath_er's
B2 A G2 B | d2 d c2 A | G3-G2 |]
w:house they went, Be-fore the break of day.
W:
W:She mounted on her milk-white steed,
W:And he on his dapple gray,
W:And forth from her father's house they went,
W:Before the break of day.
W:
W:They rode and rode and rode away
W:Until they came to the sea,
W:And here they pulled their horses up
W:Hard by a willow tree.
W:
W:"Now get thee down, my pretty Pollee,
W:And harken unto me,-
W:Six pretty maidens I've drownded here,
W:And you the seventh shall be.
W:
W:"Take off, take off that silken gown,
W:And give it unto me,-
W:A silken gown is much too fine
W:To rot in the salt sea."
W:
W:"O turn about, O turn about,
W:And face the willow tree,-
W:While I take off the silken gown
W:And give it unto thee."
W:
W:He turned about, he turned about,
W:And faced the willow tree,-
W:She took him in her lily-white arms,
W:And threw him into the sea.
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there, my false lover,
W:Lie there instead of me,-
W:If six pretty maidens you've drownded here,
W:Go bear them company!"
W:
W:She mounted on her milk-white steed,
W:And led the dapple gray,
W:And back she went to her father's house,
W:Before the break of day.
W:
W:The first she saw was the little parrot,-
W:"O where have you been from me?
W:O where have you been in the early morn,-
W:O where have you been from me?"
W:
W:"O say no more, my little parrot,-
W:O say no more to me,
W:And I'll give thee a golden cage,
W:To hang on the chestnut tree!"
W:
W:The next to speak was her mother dear,-
W:"O where have you been from me?"
W:"I've been to church in the early morn,
W:To say a prayer for thee."


X:23
T:The Seven King's Daughters
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Davis, "Traditional Ballads of Virginia", I929'p. 550(F);
O:text, pp. 7I-72. Sung by Miss Odell Roop, Vinton, Va., September II,
O:I922. Collected by Alfreda M. Peel.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Gmix
B | d2 d d2 d | B2 A G2 d |
w:There was a man out in the land, He
eee c2 e | [M:3/8] Hd2 d | [M:6/8] ggg BAB |
w:court-ed a maid-en fair; He prom-ised to take her to 
[M:9/8] cBc d3 B2 d | [M:6/8] d2 c B2 A | G3-G2 |]
w:north_ern lands, There the marr_iage should be.
W:
W:There was a man out in the land,
W:He courted a maiden fair;
W:He promised to take her to northern lands,
W:There the marriage should be.
W:
W:"Go get some of your father's gold,
W:Some of your mother's fee;
W:Get two of the horses that stand in the stalls,
W:That stand by forty and three.
W:
W:"Dismount, dismount your milky steed
W:And deliver it unto me;
W:For six king's daughters have I drowned,
W:And the seventh one you shall be.
W:
W:"Pull off, pull off your silky robe
W:And deliver it unto me;
W:For I think it is too costly
W:To roll in the deep blue sea."
W:
W:"If I must pull off my silky robe,
W:Please turn your back on me;
W:For I think it's not nice, you know,
W:A naked maiden to see."
W:
W:He turned his back all unto her;
W:She wept most bitterly;
W:She grabbed him round his thin small waist
W:And tumbled him into the sea.
W:
W:He waved on high, he waved on low,
W:He waved till he came to her (side?):
W:"Take hold of my hand, my pretty Pauline,
W:And you shall be my bride."


X:24
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Davis, I929, p. 55I(S); text, p. 85. Sung by Lucile Noel,
O:Vinton, Va., November 30, I923. Noted by Evelyn Rex.
O:Collected by Alfreda M. Peel.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Hexatonic ( -7) Ionian/Mixolydian
d | d2 d d2 d | B2 A G2 d |
w:Go get me of my fath-er's gold, And
eee cde | d3-d2 d | gBB BAB |
w:some of my moth*er's feed;* Get two of the hors-es that
cBc d2 B | d2 d cBA | G3-G2 |]
w:stand in the stall, That stand by for-ty and three.
W:
W:"Go get me of my father's gold,
W:And some of my mother's feed;
W:Get two of the horses that stand in the stall,
W:That stand by forty and three."


X:25
T:Tell-tale Polly
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Charley Fox's Minstrel's Companion,
O:n.d., p. 52 (photostat copy, Phillips Barry Collection,
O:Harvard College Library).
N:Bronson has measure 6 as | dedB G3 e |. I changed it to
N:match the words.  He also has an alternate measure 7:
N:| d2 c2 A2 B2 |
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Hexatonic ( -7) Ionian/Mixolydian
Bc | d2 d2 e3 e | dedB G2 Bc |
w:She* mount-ed on her bon-ny, bon-ny brown, And she
d2 d2 g3 B | d2 z2 z2 z d | gggg d2 BB |
w:led the dapp-le gray, So merr-i-ly she rode by the
dedB G2 ee | d2 cc A2 BB |
w:mer-ry green-*wood Till she came to the brink of the
G2 A2 B2 ee | d2 BB A2 BB | G2 z2 z2 |]
w:sea__ Till she came to the brink of the sea.
W:
W:She mounted on her bonny, bonny brown,
W:And she led the dapple gray,
W:So merrily she rode by the merry greenwood
W:Till she came to the brink of the sea,
W:Till she came to the brink of the sea.
W:
W:Lie there, lie there, you false-hearted man,
W:Lie there instead of me;
W:'Tis six fair maidens you have drowned in the sea,
W:And the seventh one you shall be, &c.
W:
W:She mounted on her bonny, bonny brown,
W:And she led the dapple gray:
W:So merrily she rode by the merry greenwood,
W:So long before it was day, &c.
W:
W:The parrot overheard the noise,
W:And unto her did say,
W:What was the matter, my pretty little lass,
W:So long before 'twas day? &c.
W:
W:The father overheard the noise,
W:And unto her did say,
W:What is the matter with my darling little child
W:So long before the broke cf day? &c.
W:
W:There is a cat at my cage-door,
W:And it swears it will have me;
W:And I have come to call my Collin dear,
W:To drive the cat away, &c.
W:
W:Oh, hush! oh hush! my pretty, pretty poll,
W:And tell no tales on me:
W:Your cage shall be made of pure beaten gold,
W:And your door of ivory-ee, &c.


X:26
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 75I/. Sung by Mrs. Pike, Somerton, January
O:5, I906; transmitted by Mrs. Snow.
N:No lyrics given in Bronson
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Gmix % inflected 7th
d | dcA G2 d | cBA G2 B/c/ |
dfe edc | d3-d2 B | dcd g^fg | cBc B Bc |
dfe dcA | G3 B2 c | dfe dcA | G3-G2 |]

X:27
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., I342/. Sung by Mrs. Emma Callow,
O:Bogborough, April 9, I907.
N:No lyrics given in Bronson
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Cmix
G | GFD C2 G | FDE C2 G/A/ |
BAG cBA | G3-G2 G | BAG ccc |
cCC FE F | GAG FED | C3-C2 |]


X:28
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:A. Sharp MSS., I405/I290. Also in Sharp, 4th series, I908,
O:No. 84; and Sharp, I916, p. 29, with piano accompaniment.
O:Sung by Joseph Laver (73), Bridgwater, August I4, I907.
O:B.Sharp MSS., 1002/. Sung by Joseph Laver (72), Bridgwater, August I3, 1906.
N:These two tunes from the same singer were listed separtely
N:by Bronson as nos. 28a and 28b.  The A tune also listed many alternate bars.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Ddor
[P:A]D | AAB c2 E | GFE D2 G |
w:An out-land-ish knight came from the North Lands, And
A2 c dcB | A3-A2 G | ABc ded |
w:he came woo-ing to me,* He told me he'd take me to
cAF G2 A | BcB A2 D | D3-D2 |]
w:some for-eign lands And there he would mar-ry me.
[P:B]D | AAB c2 G | FGE D2 G |
w:An out-land-ish knight came from the North Lands, He
A2 c dcB | A3-A2 G | AAB cde |
w:came a woo-ing of me,* He said he would take me un-
dBG A2 G | ABA G2 E | D3-D2 |]
w:to the North-lands  And there he would mar-ry me.
W:
W:An outlandish knight came from the North Lands,
W:And he came wooing to me,
W:He told me he'd take me to some foreign lands
W:And there he would marry me.
W:
W:Go fetch me some of your mother's gold
W:And some of your father's fee
W:And two of the best nags out of the stable
W:Where there stood thirty and three.
W:
W:She fetched him some of her mother's gold
W:And some of her father's fee
W:And two of the best nags out of the stable
W:Where there stood thirty and three.
W:
W:Now she mounted on her milk white steed
W:And he on his dippled grey
W:And they rode till they came to the sea side
W:Three hours before it was day.
W:
W:Duff off, duff off, your silken things
W:And deliver them up to me
W:For it looks too rich and too gay
W:To rot all in the salt sea.
W:
W:If I must take off my silken things
W:Pray turn thy back unto me
W:For it's not fitting that such a ruffian
W:A naked woman should see.
W:
W:Now he turned his back unto her
W:And viewed the watery stream,
W:She catched him round the middle so small
W:And forced him into the stream.
W:
W:He drooped high, he drooped low,
W:Until he came to the side.
W:Catch hold of my hand my pretty Polly
W:And you shall be my bride.
W:
W:Lay there, lay there you false hearted man,
W:Lay there in the stead of me.
W:There are six pretty maidens thou hast a [sic] drowned there
W:But the seventh have drownded thee.
W:
W:Now she mounted on her milk-white steed
W:And led the dipple grey
W:And she rode till she came to her own father's house
W:Three hours before it was day.


X:29
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:J. Collingwood Bruce and John Stokoe, "Northumbrian Minstrelsy", I882,
O:pp. 48-50. Also, with accompaniment, in John Stokoe and Samuel Reay, Songs of
O:Northern England, I892, p. I30. Sung by Mrs.Andrews, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:C
G | GAG cdc | BGG G2 G |
w:An Out-land-ish knight* came from the north lands, And
GAG cBA | G3-G2 G | GAG cdc |
w:he came a woo-ing to me;* He told me he'd take me un-
BGE F2 E/F/ | GAG FDB, | C3-C2 |]
w:to the North lands, And* there he would mar-*ry me.
W:
W:An Outlandish knight came from the north lands,
W:And he came a wooing to me;
W:He told me he'd take me unto the North lands,
W:And there he would marry me.
W:
W:"Come, fetch me some of your father's gold,
W:And some of your mother's fee;
W:And two of the best nags out of the stable,
W:Where they stand thirty and three."
W:
W:She fetched him some of her father's gold,
W:And some of her mother's fee;
W:And two of the best nags out of the stable,
W:Where they stood thirty and three.
W:
W:She mounted her on her milk-white steed.
W:He on the dapple grey,
W:They rode till they came unto the sea side,
W:Three hours before it was day.
W:
W:"Light off, light off thy milk-white steed,
W:And deliver it unto me;
W:Six pretty maids have I drowned here,
W:And thou the seventh shall be.
W:
W:Pull off, pull off thy silken gown,
W:And deliver it unto me,
W:Methinks it looks too rich and gay,
W:To rot in the salt sea.
W:
W:Pull off, pull off, thy silken stays,
W:And deliver them unto me,
W:Methinks they are too fine and gay
W:To rot in the salt sea.
W:
W:Pull off, pull off, thy Holland smock,
W:And deliver it unto me,
W:Methinks it looks too rich and gay,
W:To rot in the salt sea."
W:
W:"If I must pull off my Holland smock,
W:Pray turn thy back to me,
W:For it is not fitting that such a ruffian,
W:A naked woman should see."
W:
W:He's turned his back towards her,
W:And viewed the leaves so green,
W:She catched him round the middle so small,
W:And tumbled him into the stream.
W:
W:He dropped high, he dropped low,
W:Until he came to the side,-
W:"Catch hold of my hand, my pretty maiden,
W:And I will make you my bride."
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there, you false-hearted man,
W:Lie there instead of me;
W:Six pretty maids have you drowned here,
W:And the seventh has drowned thee."
W:
W:She mounted on her milk-white steed,
W:And led the dapple grey;
W:She rode till she came to her own father's hall,
W:Three hours before it was day.
W:
W:The parrot being in the window so high,
W:Hearing the lady, did say;
W:"I'm afraid that some ruffian has led you astray,
W:That you've tarried so long away."
W:
W:"Don't prittle or prattle, my pretty parrot,
W:Nor tell no tales of me;
W:Thy cage shall be made of the glittering gold,
W:Although it is made of a tree."
W:
W:The king being in the chamber so high,
W:And hearing the parrot, did say:
W:"What ails you, what ails you, my pretty parrot,
W:That you prattle so long before day."
W:
W:"It's no laughing matter," the parrot did say;
W:"But so loudly I call unto thee,
W:For the cats have got into the window so high,
W:And I'm afraid they will have me."
W:
W:"Well turned, well turned, my pretty parrot,
W:Well turned, well turned for me;
W:Thy cage shall be made of the glittering gold,
W:And the door of the best ivory."


X:30
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Frank Kidson, JFSS, II (I906), p. 282(2).
O:Sung at Knaresboro', Yorkshire.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:C
G | G>AG c>dc | B3 G2 G |
w:An out-land-ish Knight from the north-lands, And
G>AG c>BA | G3-G2 G | G>AG c>dc |
w:he came a-woo-ing to me;* He prom-is'd he'd take me un-
BGG G2 E/F/ | G>AG FDB, | C3-C3 |
w:to the north-lands, And* there he would mar-*ry me;
c3 A3 | G2 A/G/ GFD | C3-C2 |]
w:Oh! and there he would mar-*ry me.
W:
W:An outlandish Knight from the northlands,
W:And he came a-wooing to me;
W:He promis'd he'd take me unto the northlands,
W:And there he would marry me;
W:Oh! and there he would marry me.


X:31
T:The Robber and the Lady
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Alice E. Gillington, "Eight Hampshire Folk Songs",I907, pp. 4-5.
O:"Taken from the mouths of the peasantry."
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:C
G | AED C2 G/G/ | FDE C2 G |
c2 c BGA | G3-G2 G | ccc B2 G |
AFA G2 E | EGE DCD | C3-C2 |]
W:
W:An outlandish Knight from the North Countrie
W:He came a-bowing to me;
W:He told me he'd take me to the Northlands,
W:And there he'd marry me.
W:
W:"Give me some of your father's gold,
W:And some of your mother's fee!
W:And take two of the best nags out of the stable,
W:Where there stands thirty and three."
W:
W:She mounted on her milk-white steed,
W:And he on the dapper grey;
W:And they rode till they came to some fair waterside,
W:Three hours before it was day.
W:
W:"Light off, light off your milk-white steed,
W:And deliver it unto me!
W:For six pretty maidens I have a-drown'd here,
W:And you the seventh will be!"
W:
W:"Pull off, pull off your silken gown,
W:And deliver it unto me!
W:For I think it do look too rich and too gay
W:To rot all in the salt sea!"
W:
W:"O, turn, O, turn" the Lady cried;
W:"O, turn your back unto me!-
W:For it is not fit that such a robber
W:An innocent woman should see!"
W:
W:Then she took off her silken gown,
W:And bitterly did she weep;
W:And she caught him round the middle so small,
W:And tumbled him into the deep.
W:
W:He floated high, he floated low,
W:He floated near the sea side,
W:"Lay hold of my hand, my pretty Lady,
W:I will make you my lawful bride!
W:
W:"Lay there, lay there, thou false-hearted man!
W:Lay there instead of me!
W:For six pretty maidens thou hast a-drown'd here,
W:And the seventh will now drown thee!"
W:
W:She mounted on her milk-white steed,
W:A-leading the dapper grey,
W:And she rode till she came to her father's door,
W:One hour before it was day.
W:
W:And the parrot being up in the window so high
W:And hearing the lady pass by;-
W:"O, I think some false hearted man you have slain,
W:You come rambling so long before day!"
W:
W:"Don't prittle nor prattle, my pretty Polly!
W:Don't tell little tales on me!
W:And your cage shall be made of the glittering gold,
W:And your door of the best ivory!"

Group B


X:98
T:Pretty Polly
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Arthur Palmer Hudson, Folk Tunes from Mississippi, T937,
O:No. II. Sung by Mrs. R. C. Jones, Oxford, Miss., c. I923-30.
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Gdor % Hexatonic ( -6) Dorian/Aeolian
F2 | G2 F2 B2 d2 | B2 G2 F2 F2 | G2 F2 f2 c2 |
w:Oh take some of your fath-er's gold, Like-wise your moth-er's
d6 F2 | G2 FF B2 d2 | [M:3/2] BB G2 F6 BA |
w:fee, And two of your fath-er's fin-est hors-es, Where
[M:4/4] G2 G2 D2 C2 | F2 F2 D2 BA | F2 F2 D2 F2 | G6 |]
w:there stands thir-ty-three, three, three, Where* there stands thir-ty-three.
W:
W:Oh take some of your father's gold,
W:Likewise your mother's fee,
W:And two of your father's finest horses,
W:Where there stands thirty-three, three, three,
W:Where there stands thirty-three.


X:99
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 3702/2754. Also in Sharp and Karpeles, I932,
O:I, pp. I0(F)-II. Sung by Mrs. Joe Vanhook, Berea College,
O:Madison County, Ky., May 20, I9I7.
N:Versions of "The House Carpenter" (Child #243) resemble this tune.
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:Gdor
c | d d f =e | d d/d/ G G |
c c/d/ =e e | d3 B/c/ | d d c B |
G G/F/ D G | c c d/c/ A | G3 |]
W:
W:Come rise you up, my pretty Polly,
W:And go along with me.
W:I'll take you to the North Scotland,
W:And married we will be.
W:
W:Go bring me a bag of your father's gold,
W:Likewise your mother's fee,
W:And two of the best horses that stand in the stall,
W:For there stand thirty and three.
W:
W:She brought him a bag of her father's gold,
W:Likewise her mother's fee,
W:And two of the best horses that stand in the stall,
W:For there stand thirty and three.
W:
W:She lit upon her nimble going brown,
W:[He] mounted the dapple grey,
W:And when they reached the North Scotland
W:Just three hours before the day.
W:
W:Light you down, light you down, my pretty Polly,
W:Light you down at my command.
W:Six kings' daughters here have I drowned,
W:And the seventh you shall be.
W:
W:Pull off, pull off those fine gay clothes,
W:And hang on yonder tree,
W:For they are too fine and they cost too much
W:For to rest in the salt lake sea.
W:
W:Go get those sickles for to cut those nettles
W:That grow so close to the brine,
W:For they may tangle in my long, yellow hair,
W:And stain my snowy white skin.
W:
W:He got those sickles for to cut those nettles
W:That grow so close to the brine;
W:And poor, kind Polly with a pitifully wish
W:And shoved false Wilfiam in.
W:
W:Lie there, lie there, you low William,
W:Lie there in the room of me.
W:Six kings' daughters you here have drowned,
W:And you the seventh shall be.
W:
W:Hush up, hush up, you pretty parrot bird,
W:Tell none of your tales on me.
W:Your cage shall be made of the yellow beating gold,
W:And your doors of ivory.
W:
W:Up speaks, up speaks that good old man
W:In his rook wherever he be:
W:What's the matter, what's the matter with my pretty parrot bird,
W:She's talking so long before it is day?
W:
W:Here sits three cats at my cage door,
W:My life expecting to betray;
W:I was just calling up my pretty, golden bee
W:For to drive those cats away.


X:100
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 4204/. Also in Sharp and Karpeles, I932, I,
O:p. I2(H). Sung by Mrs. Laurel Wheeler, Buena Vista, Va., May 2, I9I8.
N:Cf. also variants of "The Daemon Lover" or "The House Carpenter" (Child #243).
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Dm
c2 | d3 e f2 ee | d2 A2 G2 c2 |
w:(Oh) Take the most of your fath-er's gold Like-
d3 e f2 ec | d6 G2 | B2 cc d2 AF |
w:wise your moth-er's* fee And two of your fath-er's_
G2 GF D2 DF | "(a)"G2 Bc dc A2 | G6 |]
w:best hor-*ses Come* go a-*long* with me.
%"(a)"G2 Bc d2 cA ||
W:
W:Take the most of your father's gold
W:Likewise your mother's fee
W:And two of your father's best horses
W:Come go a-long with me.


X:101
T:Pretty Polly
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, "British Ballads from Maine",I929, p. XXVii.
Text,
O:Barry MSS., IV, No. 206. Sung by Milton H. Osborn, Vineland,
O:N.J., February I7, I907; learned from his older sister in Missouri.
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:C
C | G G/>A/ c G | A G G C |
w:Mount up, mount* up, my pretty Pol-ly, And
G A c A | G3 G | c G A C | F A G A |
w:come a-long with me, I'll take thee to the far Scot-land, And
G G F D | C D E A | G G F D | C3 |]
w:there I'll mar-ry thee, thee, thee, And there I'll mar-ry thee!
W:
W:"Mount up, mount up, my pretty Polly,
W:And come along with me,
W:And I'll take thee to the far Scotland,
W:And there I'll marry thee, thee, thee,
W:And there I'll marry thee!"
W:
W:Then they went to her father's stable,
W:And viewed the stalls around,
W:He chose out the dapple gray,
W:And she the pony brown.
W:
W:She mounted upon the little pony brown,
W:And he on the dapple gray,
W:And they rode and they rode thro' the merry green woods,
W:Till they came to the side of the sea.
W:
W:"Light off, light off, my pretty Polly,
W:Light off, light off," said he,
W:"For 6 King's daughters I've drownded here,
W:And the seventh you shall be!"
W:
W:"Take off these costly robes of silk,
W:And fold them upon your knee,
W:For it is a shame . . .
W:To rot in the salt water sea!"
W:
W:"Turn your face quite round about,
W:With your face to the leaves on the tree . .
W:(Something about a naked woman follows-
W:not recollected.)
W:
W:. . . . .
W:. . . . . .
W:And she picked him up quite manfully,
W:And threw him into the sea.
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there you false-hearted wretch
W:Lie there in the place of me!
W:For 6 King's daughters you've drownded here,
W:And the seventh has drowaded thee!"
W:
W:"O help me out, my pretty Polly,
W:O help me outl" cried he,
W:"And I'll take thee to the far Scotland,
W:And there I'll marry thee!"
W:
W:She mounted upon her little pony brown,
W:And led the dapple gray.
W:. . . . . .
W:. . . . . .
W:(Then followed some lines, not recollected, in
W:which the parrot asks Polly where she has been.)
W:
W:"O hold your tongue, my pretty parrot,
W:And tell no lies on me,
W:And I'll line your cage with the pure yellow gold,
W:And hang it on a green willow tree!"
W:(Then followed some lines, not recollected, in
W:which Polly's father asks the parrot what is
W:the matter.)
W:
W:"The cat she came to my cage window door,
W:And threatened to devour me,
W:And I called up my pretty Polly
W:To drive the cat away!"


X:102
T:False Sir John
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Kentucky Mountain Songs, Elektra, LP rec. 25. Sung by
O:Jean Ritchie, I954; learned from family tradition.
N:First bar given as: d |d d2 g>e | (which doesn't add up)
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:Gmix % Hexatonic ( -4) irregular
d |d2 g>e | d d/B/ HG d |
w:False Sir John a-woo-ing* came To~a
d d g f | d3 d | d d "(a)"g e | d d/B/ G3/ G/ |
w:la-dy young and fair. May Col-vin was this la-dy's* name, Her
B B A G | B3 D | B B A B/A/ | G3 |]
w:fath-er's on-ly heir, Her fath-er's on-ly* heir.
%"(a)"g g/e/ ||"(a)"g3/ e/ ||
W:
W:False Sir John a-wooing came
W:To a lady young and fair.
W:May Colvin was this lady's name,
W:Her father's only heir,
W:Her father's only heir.
W:
W:He wooed her while she spun the thread
W:And while they made the hay,
W:Until he gained her low consent
W:To mount and ride away,
W:To mount and ride away.
W:
W:"It's bring me some of your father's gold
W:And some of your mother's fee.
W:I'll take thee to some far-off land
W:And there I'll marry thee,
W:And there I'll marry thee."
W:
W:She's gone unto her father's coffer,
W:Where all of his monies lay;
W:She's took the yellow and left the white
W:And lightly skipped away,
W:And lightly skipped away.
W:
W:She's gone unto her father's stables,
W:Where all of his steeds did stand;
W:She's took the best and left the worst
W:In all her father's land,
W:In all her father's land.
W:
W:She's mounted on a milk-white steed
W:And he on a dapple gray;
W:And they rode till they come to a lonesome spot,
W:A cliff by the side of the sea,
W:A cliff by the side of the sea.
W:
W:"Light down, light down," said False Sir John;
W:"Your bridal bed you'll see:
W:It's seven women have I drownded here
W:And the eighth one you shall be,
W:And the eighth one you shall be.
W:
W:"Have off, have off your Holland smock
W:With borders all around,
W:For it's too costly to lav down here
W:And rot on the cold, cold ground,
W:And rot on the cold, cold ground."
W:
W:"Turn around, turn around, thou False Sir John,
W:And look at the leaves on the tree.
W:It don't become a gentleman
W:A naked woman to see,
W:A naked woman to see."
W:
W:Oh, False Sir John has turned around
W:To gaze at the leaves on the tree;
W:She's made a dash with her tender little arms
W:And pushed him into the sea,
W:And pushed him into the sea.
W:
W:"Oh, help! oh, help! May Colvin!
W:Oh, help, or I shall drown!
W:I'll take you back to your father's house
W:And lightly set you down,
W:And lightly set you down."
W:
W:"No help, no help," said May Colvin,
W:"No help will you get from me.
W:The bed's no colder to you, sir,
W:Than you thought to give to me,
W:Than you thought to give to me."
W:
W:She mounted on the milk-white steed
W:And led the dapple gray,
W:And rode till she come to her father's house
W:At the breaking of the day,
W:At the breaking of the day.
W:
W:Then up and spoke the little parrot,
W:Said: "May Colvin, where have you been?
W:And what have you done with False Sir John
W:That went with you ridin',
W:That went with you ridin'?"
W:
W:"Oh, hold your tongue, you little parrot
W:And tell no tales on me,
W:And I'll buy you a cage of beaten gold
W:With spokes of ivory,
W:With spokes of ivory."


X:103
T:Pretty Polly
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Davis, "Traditional Ballads of Virginia",I929, p. 54g(B);
O:text, pp. 65-67. Sung by Hill Jackson (Negro), Brown's Cove,
O:Va., June I, I9I7. Collected by Miss D. R. Martin, J. M. McManaway;
O:music noted by John Stone, November 3, I920.
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:C % Hexatonic ( -4) Lydian/Ionian
E | G G c c | B A G E | G G c E |
w:He followed me up, he followed me down, He followed me all the
G3 E | G G/G/ c c | B A G E |
w:way; I had not the heart to say one word, Nor
G G G D | E G G D | G G G D | C3 |]
w:heart to say him nay, nay, nay, Nor heart to say him nay.
W:
W:"He followed me up, he followed me down,
W:He followed me all the way;
W:I had not the heart to say one word,
W:Nor heart to say him nay, nay, nay,
W:Nor heart to say him nay."
W:
W:"You get all of your father's gold,
W:Likewise your mother's fee,
W:And two of your father's best horses
W:Which are of thirty and three,
W:And come along with me."
W:
W:She jumped upon the bonny, bonny, brown,
W:And he the piebald bay,
W:And rode along by the broad water side
W:That lonely lazy summer day, day, day,
W:That long summer day.
W:
W:"Set you down, set you down, Pretty Polly,
W:And chat a while with me;
W:For here I've drownded six king's daughters,
W:And you were the seventh to be, to be,
W:And you were the seventh to be."
W:
W:"No, Jimmy, my pretty Jimmy,
W:That's not what you promised me;
W:You promised to take me to the marriage land,
W:And there to marry me, me, me,
W:And there to marry me."
W:
W:"Pull off, pull off those costly robes,
W:And hang them on yonder tree;
W:They are too costly and fine
W:To swim in the salt water sea, sea, sea,
W:To swim in the salt water sea."
W:
W:"Turn your face about
W:Into the leaves of the tree."
W:She picked him up in her arms so strong
W:And plunged home [sic] into the sea, sea, sea,
W:And plunged home into the sea.
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there, you false-hearted wretch,
W:Lie there, instead of me;
W:Six king's daughters you've drownded there,
W:And I the seventh was to be, be, be,
W:And I the seventh was to be."
W:
W:"Oh no, Polly, oh no, Polly,
W:All I want is help from thee,
W:And if I get to shore again,
W:I'm sure to marry thee, thee, thee,
W:I'm sure to marry thee."
W:
W:She jumped upon the bonny, bonny, brown,
W:And he the piebald bay,
W:And arrived at her father's house
W:Three hours before 't was day, day, day,
W:Three hours before 't was day.
W:
W:She put the gold into its place,
W:And the horses where its would be,
W:And arrived into her chamber fair,
W:Two hours before 't was day, day, day,
W:Two hours before 't was day.
W:
W:Then up rised that pretty parrot
W:. . . . . . . .
W:"Oh, what are you doing up
W:So long before't was day, day, day,
W:So long before 't was day?"
W:
W:"Set you down, get you down, Pretty Polly,
W:Don't tell no tales on me;
W:Your cage shall be made of hand-beaten gold,
W:The door out of ivory, -ry, -ry,
W:The door out of ivory."
W:
W:Then up rose that good old man,
W:Then up rose that good old man.
W:"What are you doing up
W:So long before 'tis day, day, day,
W:So long before 'tis day?"
W:
W:"There are three cats at my cage door,
W:Trying to do violence to me,
W:And I'm just call (-ing) Miss Polly
W:To drive those cats away, -way, -way,
W:To drive those cats away."


X:104
T:Pretty Polly
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Davis, "Traditional Ballads of Virginia",I929, p. 550(P); text, pp. 83-84.
O:Sung by an old lady in Lee County, Va., November 3, T920. Collected by Olive
O:Flora Bryson.
N:With this variant, cf. "Pretty Peggy O" (Sharp and Karpeles, 1932,
N:II, p. 59(B), a version of the Scottish "Lass o' Fyvie").
M:2/4
L:1/8
K:Am % but modulating to Ddor on the last line
G | AA eA | cB HA G | AA dB |
w:
A3 G | AA/A/ eA | cB/G/ HF B |
w:
AA/A/ GE | DE G B | AA/A/ GE | D3 |]
w:
W:
W:"Hush, hush, my pretty Polly dear,
W:Don't tell any tales on me.
W:Your cage shall be made of yellow beaten gold
W:And hung in a willow tree, -e, -e,
W:And hung in a willow tree."
W:
W:"She rode away on a milk-white steed
W:And led the dapple gray
W:. . . . . . . . .
W:Three hours before break of day."
W:
W:The father hears her go out and questions the
W:parrot, who replies:
W:
W:"A bold cat came to my cage door
W:And threatened to worry me (or, threatened war with me)
W:And I was calling to my pretty Polly dear
W:To drive the cat away, away,
W:To drive the cat away."
W:
W:They come to a deep pool, the knight secures
W:her jewels and sings:
W:
W:. . . . . . .
W:. . . . . .
W:"Six king's daughters I've drownded here
W:And the seventh one you shall be, -e,-e,
W:And the seventh one you shall be."
W:
W:There is a struggle, thc maid frees herself and
W:throws the knight into thc pool, then sings:
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there, you false young man,
W:. . . . . . . .
W:For six king's daughters you've drownded here
W:But the seventh one's drownded you, -u, -u,
W:But the seventh one's drownded you."

X:105
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 4585/3208-9. Sung by Mrs. George McCormick,
O:Garden City, N.C., September 9, I9I8.
N:Sharp's notation was for the second verse.  He did not
N:note how the irregularities of the other verses were accommodated.
M:3/2
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [¼1]
G2 AA B2 | d6 BA GG B2 | A2 G4 G2 AA B2 |
w:He foll-owed me up, he* foll-owed me down_ He foll-owed me
d6 BA G2 B2 | A6 G2 AA BB | d6 BA G2 B2 | [M:2/2] A4 B3 A |
w:to my* fath-er's room; I'd not* any* tongue to* say O Nay, And then
G2 AG E G2 E | [M:3/2] D2 E2 G4 B3 A | [M:2/2] G2 AG E G2 E | [M:3/2] D6 |]
w:he came* a court-ing of* me. And then he came* court-ing of me.
W:
W:I'll tell you of a brisk young sailor,
W:And Jimmy his name shall be,
W:He came across the wide ocean,
W:And then he came courting of me.
W:
W:He followed me up, he followed me down,
W:He followed me to my father's room;
W:I'd not any tongue to say O Nay,
W:Nor no wings to fly away.
W:
W:I want part of your father's money,
W:I want your mother's key,
W:And two of the best horses out of thirty and three.
W:
W:I gave him part of my father's money,
W:I gave him my mother's key,
W:And two of the best horses out of thirty and three.
W:
W:He set me up on the milk-white steed,
W:And himself on the iron grey;
W:We rode till we came to the Asia shore
W:Just the length of a summer's day.
W:
W:Get down, get down, my pretty fair maid,
W:And pull the leaves upon the trees.
W:Six fair maids I have drowned here
W:And the seventh you shall be.
W:
W:Turn your back, she said to him,
W:Pull the leaves of the trees.
W:She got him round the middle small
W:And tripped him into the sea.
W:
W:Lie there, lie there, you dirty dog,
W:Lie there in place of me,
W:For six fair maids you've drowned here,
W:But the seventh you shall be.
W:
W:She got up on the milk-white steed,
W:By her side was the iron-grey;
W:She rode till she came to her father's gate
W:Three long hours before it was day.


X:106
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 3I42/?. Also in Sharp and Karpeles, I932, I,
O:p. 6(B). Sung by Mrs. Bishop, Clay County, Ky., July I6,
O:I909. Collected by Olive Dame Campbell. Text not included in Sharp's MSS.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Ddor % Pentatonic ( -3 -7) Ionian/Mixolydian/Dorian [Pi 2]
G | A2 A d2 d | AAA G2 G | A2 A/B/ d2 d |
w:Pull off that silk, my pret-ty Pol-ly, Pull off that* silk, said
A3-A2 D/D/ | G2 G G2 G/G/ | A2 B/A/ G2 B |
w:he,* For* it is too fine and too cost-*ly To
A2 B/A/ G2 E | D2 E G2 B | A2 B/A/ G2 E | D3-D2 |]
w:rot in the brin-y, brin-y sea, To rot in the brin-y sea.
W:
W:Pull off that silk, my pretty Polly,
W:Pull off that silk, said he,
W:For it is too fine and too costly
W:To rot in the briny, briny sea,
W:To rot in the briny sea.
W:
W:Turn your back, sweet Willie, said she,
W:O turn your back unto me,
W:For you are too bad a rebel
W:For a naked woman to see.
W:
W:She picked him up in her arms so strong
W:And she threw him into the sea,
W:Saying: If you have drowned six kings' daughters here,
W:You may lay here in the room of me.
W:
W:Stretch out your hand, O pretty Polly,
W:Stretch out your hand for me,
W:. . . . . . . . .
W:And help me out of the sea . . .
W:
W:She picked up a rock and threw on him, saying:
W:Lay there, lay there, you dirty, dirty dog,
W:Lay there in the room of me.
W:You're none too good nor too costly
W:To rot in the briny, briny sea.
W:
W:Hush up, hush up, my pretty parrot,
W:Hush up, hush up, said she.
W:You shall have a golden cage with an ivory lid
W:Hung in the willow tree.

X:107
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:George Korson, "Pennsylvania Songs and Legends~ I949, pp. 30-32. Sung
O:by Mrs. Hannah Sayre, Washington County, Pa., I933. Recorded by Samuel P.
Bayard.
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:Gmix % Hexatonic ( -7) Ionian/Mixolydian (Bronson has M/D)
G | A/A/ B d d | B/B/ A G G |
w:He fol-lered me up, he fol-lered me down, He
A/A/ B d/d/ B | A2 z G | A B d d | B/A/ G c B/B/ |
w:fol-lered wher-ev-er I lay; I had no wings to fly* from him, Nor no
A > A G > E | D E G B/B/ | A > A G E | D2 z |]
w:tongue to tell him nay, nay, nay, Nor no tongue to tell him nay.
W:
W:He follered me up, he follered me down,
W:He follered wherever I lay;
W:I had no wings to fly from him,
W:Nor no tongue to tell him nay, nay, nay,
W:Nor no tongue to tell him nay.
W:
W:Take some of your father's beaten gold
W:Likewise of your mother's fee,
W:And send two of the steeds out of your father's stable
W:Where stands thirty and three, three, three,
W:Where stands thirty and three.
W:
W:She went and she took of her father's gold,
W:And some of her mother's fee,
W:And two steeds out of her father's stable
W:Where there stands thirty and three.
W:
W:She mounted onto the bony, bony black,
W:And him on the di-pole gray,
W:And they rode along through the merry green woods
W:Till they come to the banks of the sea.
W:
W:Light down, light down, my pretty Polin,
W:I've something to say to thee:
W:Six daughters of the king I've drownded here,
W:And the seventh you shall be.
W:
W:Take off, take off, that fine silk gown,
W:And hang it on the tree,
W:For it is too fine and too costly too
W:To rot in the salt water sea.
W:
W:And turn yourself three times around,
W:And gaze at the leaves on the tree,
W:For God never made sich a rascal as you
W:A naked woman to see.
W:
W:He turned hisself three times around,
W:To gaze at the leaves on the tree;
W:She picked him up so manfully-like,
W:And plunged him into the sea.
W:
W:Lie there, lie there, you false-hearted knight,
W:Lie there in the stead of me-
W:You've promised to take me to old Scotland,
W:And there you would marry of me.
W:
W:She jumped onto the bony, bony black,
W:And led the di-pole gray,
W:And she rode till she come to her father's own house,
W:Three long hours before it was day.
W:
W:Up bespoke the little parrot,
W:Where in his cage it lay,
W:Saying, Where are you going, my pretty Polin?
W:You're traveling so long before day.
W:
W:Hold your tongue, my pretty parrot,
W:Tell none of your tales (lies) on me;
W:Your cage shall be made of the yellow, beaten gold,
W:And hung on the green willow tree.
W:
W:Up bespoke the old man
W:Where in his room he lay,
W:Saying, What's the matter, my pretty parrot?
W:You're pratteling so long before day.
W:
W:The old cat come to my cage door,
W:And swore she would worry of me,
W:And I had to call on my pretty Polin
W:To drive the bold pussy cat away, -way, -way,
W:To drive the bold pussy cat away!


X:108
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 426I/. Sung by Mrs. Elizabeth M. Berry,
O:Nellysford, Va., May 2I, I908.
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
G | A B d d | A/B/ A G G |
w:Come sit you down, my pret-ty Pol-ly, Come
A A/B/ d B | A3 G | A A/B/ d d |
w:sit you* down by me; I'm all to* talk to
A/B/ A G A/B/ | A > B G E | D E G B |
w:you,* you, you, I'm* all to talk to you, you, you, I'm
A > B G E | D3 B | A > B G G/E/ |
w:all to talk to you. I'm all to talk to*
G A/E/ G B | A > B G E | D3 |]
w:you, you,* you, I'm all to talk to you.
W:
W:Come sit you down, my pretty Polly,
W:Come sit you down by me;
W:I'm all to talk to you, you, you,
W:I'm all to talk to you, you, you,
W:I'm all to talk to you.
W:I'm all to talk to you, you, you,
W:I'm all to talk to you.


X:109
T:Six Kings Daughters
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Loraine Wyman and Howard Brockway, "Lonesome Tunes", [I9I6], pp. 82-87. Sung
O:in Letcher and Estill Counties, Ky.
M:3/4
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
G AB | d3 d/d/ B/B/ A | G2 > G2 AB |
w:"Get up, get up, pret-ty Pol-ly," he says And go a-
[M:2/4] d2 > B2 | A2 z B, | DE/E/ GG | A/B/A G B |
w:long with me, I'll take you a-way to New* Scot-land And
AA G/G/E | DE G B | A/B/A G/G/E | D2-D |]
w:there we'll mar-ry and stay.__ And there* we'll mar-ry and stay.
W:
W:"Get up, get up, pretty Polly," he says
W:"And go along with me,
W:I'll take you away to New Scotland
W:And there we'll marry and stay."
W:
W:She stole fifty pounds of her father's gold
W:And besides her mother's fee
W:And two of the horses in the stall
W:Where there were thirty and three.
W:
W:She bound herself on the bonny, bonny black
W:And him on the tabbit bay,
W:They rode 'til they came to the high sea-side
W:One hour before it was day.
W:
W:"Light down, light down, pretty Polly," he says,
W:"Light down, light down with me,
W:This is the place I've drowned six
W:And you the seventh shall be."
W:
W:"Pull off, pull off, that costly gown
W:And lay it by yonders tree
W:It never shall be said such costly wear
W:Shall rot in the salt water sea."
W:
W:"O turn yourself all around and about
W:Your face toward the sea,
W:It never shall be said such a rascal as you
W:A naked lady for to see."
W:
W:He turned himself all around and about
W:And his face toward the sea
W:And with her little white tender arms
W:She shoved him into the sea.
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there, you false-hearted man
W:Lie there instead of me,
W:If this be the place you drowned six
W:The seventh you shall be."
W:
W:She bound herself on the bonny, bonny black
W:And she led the tabbit bay,
W:She rode 'til she came to her father's house
W:One hour before it was day.
W:
W:Up speaks, up speaks that pretty parrot bird
W:In her cagc where she be,
W:"What's the matter, what's the matter with my pretty Polly
W:She's up so long before day."
W:
W:"Hush up, hush up, pretty parrot bird,
W:Tell none of your tales on me;
W:Your cage shall be made of the yellow beaten gold
W:And your doors of ivory."
W:
W:"What's the matter what's the matter pretty Polly" he said
W:"What's the matter what's the matter with thee?
W:I thought you had gone to New Scotland
W:And there for to marry and stay."


X:110
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 3I97/2341. Also in Sharp and Karpeles, I932,
O:I, p. s(A). Sung by Mrs. Mary Sands, Allanstand, N.C., August 2, I9I6.
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
G | A B d d | B A/G/ G G |
A B d B | A3 G/G/ | A B Hd3 A/ |
B A G B | HA B/A/ G E/E/ | D E G B |
"(a)"HA B/A/ G E/E/ | D3 |]
%"(a)" [M:3/2] A3 B/A/ G E/E/ |]
W:
W:Get down, get down, get down, says he,
W:Pull off that fine silk gown;
W:For it is too fine and costly
W:To rot in the salt-water sea, sea, sea,
W:To rot in the salt-water sea.
W:
W:Turn yourself all around and about
W:With your face turned toward the sea.
W:And she picked him up so manfully
W:And over'd him into the sea.
W:
W:Pray help me out, pray help me out,
W:Pray help me out, says he,
W:And I'll take you to the old Scotland
W:And there I will marry thee.
W:
W:Lie there, lie there,* you false-hearted knight,
W:Lie there instead of me,
W:For you stripped me as naked as ever I was born,
W:But I'll take nothing from thee.
W:
W:She jumped upon the milk-white steed
W:And she led the dapple grey,
W:And she rode back to her father's dwelling
W:Three long hours before day.
W:
W:*1932 omits the second "lie there."


X:111
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 322I/. Also in Sharp and Karpeles, I932, I,
O:p. 8(D). Sung by Mrs. Nancy E. Shelton, Carmen, N.C.,
O:August 8, T9I6.
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
G | A B d B | B A G G |
w:She mount-ed on the milk white steed And
A B d B | A3 G | A B d d/d/ | B A G B/B/ |
w:led the dapp-le grey And when she got to her fath-er's house It was
A B G E | D E G B/B/ | A B G E | D3 |]
w:one long hour till day till day It was one long hour till day
W:
W:She mounted on the milk white steed
W:And led the dapple grey
W:And when she got to her father's house
W:It was one long hour till day till day
W:It was one long hour till day
W:
W:It's hold your tongue my Pretty Polly
W:And tell no tales of me
W:And your cage shall be made of the beaten gold
W:And swing in the willow tree.


X:112
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 3250/. Sung by Mrs. R. Hensley, Carmen,
O:N.C., August II, I9I6.
N:Lyrics not given in Bronson
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
G | A A Hd A | B/B/ A/A/ G G |
A A d A | "*"B A2 G | A A Hd A |
"(a)"B A G B | A B/A/ G E | D E G B |
A B/A/ G E | D3 |]
%"(a)" B/A/ G/E/ G B ||
W:
W:* Sharp's MS. note: "This appoggiatura Mrs. H. called a 'warble.'"


X:113
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 3774/. Sung by Mrs. Maud Kilburn, Berea,
O:Ky., May 3I, I9I7.
M:3/2
L:1/4
K:G % could also be Ador
G | A A d3 e | c A G3 G |
w:Go bring to me your fath-er's gold And
[M:2/2] A A/A/ d d | A3 A/A/ | [M:3/2] B B A2-A/A/ G/E/ |
w:some of yr. broth-er's fee, And the two best hors-*es in your
D E F3 B | A3 B A/A/ E |
w:fath-er's stable Where now stands thir-ty and
D E G3 B | A3 B A/A/ E | D2-D2 z |]
w:three, three, three, Where now stands thir-ty and three.
W:
W:Go bring to me your father's gold
W:And some of yr. brother's fee,
W:And the two best horses in your father's stable (stall)
W:Where now stands thirty and three, three, three,
W:Where now stands thirty and three.


X:114
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 3777/. Sung by Mrs. Townsley and Mrs. Wilson,
O:Pineville, Ky., June 2, I9I7.
M:2/2
L:1/4
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
G | A A/B/ d d | B A/G/ G G |
w:O go and* steal your fath-er's* gold, And
A A/ B/ d d/B/ | A3 G/G/ | "(a)" A A/B/ d d/d/ | "(b)"B A/G/ G/A/ B |
w:part of your moth-er's* fee; And we'll get on the hors-es and ride to the
Squire's* And
A B G E | D E G B | A B G E | D3 |]
w:mar-ried we will be, be, be, And mar-ried we will be.
%"(a)" A A/B/ d e/d/ || "(b)" B A/G/ G A/B/ ||
W:
W:O go and steal your father's gold,
W:And part of your mother's fee;
W:And we'll get on the horses and ride to the Squire's
W:And married we will be, be, be,
W:And married we will be.


X:115
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 43I9/3085-86. Sung by Mrs. Bowyer,
O:Villamont, Bedford County, Va., June 4, I9I8.
M:C|
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
G2 | A2 BB d2 d2 | B2 AB G2 G2 |
w:He fol-lowed her up, he fol-lowed her down, He
A/A/A AB d2 BB | A6 G2 | A2 AB d2 dd |
w:fol-lowed her to the room where she lay. She had not the pow-er to
B2 AA G2 BB | A2 AB G2 E2 | D6 |]
w:flee from his arms, Nor the tongue to* an-swer Nay.
W:
W:He followed her up, he followed her down,
W:He followed her to the room where she lay.
W:She had not the power to flee from his arms,
W:Nor the tongue to answer Nay.
W:
W:She got on her little pony brown,
W:And he got on his grey.
W:They rode till they came to the broad water side,
W:The length of a long summer day.
W:
W:Get down, get down, my pretty little Miss,
W:Get down, get down, these words I say,
W:For there's nine kings' daughters I've drownded here,
W:And you the tenth shall be.
W:
W:Pull off, pull off that fine silken gown,
W:And lay it on yonders stone,
W:For it's cost your father too much money
W:To rot in the salt sea foam.
W:
W:Pull off, pull off your silken veil
W:And lay it on yonders stone,
W:For it's cost your father too much money
W:To rot in the salt sea foam.
W:
W:Turn yourself around and about,
W:Your face to the leaves of the trees,
W:For I don't think that any such a wretch,
W:A nice a-lady might see.
W:
W:He turned himself around and about,
W:His face to the leaves of the trees.
W:She gave him a plunge, she plunged him in
W:To lie in the salt water sea.
W:
W:O hand me down your soft silken hands,
W:O hand them down to me,
W:O hand me down your soft silken hands,
W:And married we will be.
W:
W:O no, O no, you false-hearted man,
W:It's lie there instead of poor me.
W:It's nine kings' daughters are drownded here,
W:And you the last shall be.
W:
W:She got on her little pony brown,
W:She led the dapple grey;
W:She rode till she came to her father's gate,
W:It were not two hours before day.
W:
W:Where have you been, my pretty little Miss?
W:Where have you been? I say.
W:Where have you been, my pretty little Miss,
W:So long before day?
W:
W:O hush, O hush, my pretty little parrot,
W:Don't tell no tales on me.
W:Your cage shall be made of yellow beaten gold
W:And hung in yonders willow tree.