English Folk Songs - Lord Bateman

by Jenna Dawlish

In this post, I continue my series looking at English Folk Songs. Today, is one of my favourite songs - Lord Bateman. This song is known as a Child ballad number 53 because it was collected by Francis Child. It is sometimes called "Lord Bateman and the Turkish Lady". Like many folk songs, this has a great story:

Lord Bateman tells the story of a nobleman of high degree who sails abroad and is captured and put in prison. There he stays for a long time, until he catches the eye of the daughter of his captor. She secretly visits him to talk to him and bring him food. They fall in love. Then one night, she steals her fathers keys and sets him free.

Lord Bateman must escape in his ship. They believe they will never meet again.

Years later, and Lord Bateman is back home in England. Unknown to him, the lady who set him free travels to England to find him because she can't forget him. She travels through the country asking where Lord Bateman is, and eventually finds his castle. They are re-united and discover that their love for each other has not gone and marry.

Legend says that this story is about Thomas a Becket's parents, though how true that is, is not certain. Generally it is thought this story is a fairy tale.

H.E. Marshall's book "Our Island Story" has a chapter devoted to this story. The couple are called Rohesia and Gilbert. http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=marshall&book=island&story=gilbert

I have posted a couple of versions of the song below, but it has been sung many, many times. Just search in Spotify or YouTube and you will see how popular it is in the folk world.

Jenna Dawlish

Jenna Dawlish is the author of two Victorian novels. Love Engineered and Sprig of Thyme.

English Folk Music Part 3

Hello and welcome back to my series of posts on English Folk music.

This month, I have two songs again. The first is "The Keys of Canterbury" and the second is "Poor Murdered Woman".

The Keys of Canterbury

The Keys of Canterbury is a lovely tale of courtship. It tells of how a man tries to buy the love of a woman, promising her all sorts of gifts.

There are several variations of this song. In the one below, the man offers the lady all sorts of riches, but she refuses until he offers her his heart and she accepts. He realises that the only way to win her is to give her his heart.

However, there are other versions where the lady accepts after the offer of a number of riches but the man then withdraws his offer saying she is only after money.

This tune was first written down in 1846, but it dates back much further. In one of the versions the man offers the lady a pair of cork shoes. This means that the song dates from no later than the era of chopines or high cork shoes: 1400-1600's. In 1670, there was an Act of Parliament that banned women wearing high-heeled shoes (and other items) and it was punishable by "the penalty of the laws now in force against witchcraft, sorcery, and such like misdemeanors." I hope it was repealed!

This song has also been widely sung as a singing game amoung children (singing in rounds).

The version is by Show of Hands. Lyrics are below (lyrics may be slightly different to this version).

O Madam, I will give you
The keys of Canterbury,
And all the bells in London
Shall ring to make us merry.
If you will be my joy, my sweet and only dear,
And walk along with me, anywhere.

I shall not, Sir, accept of you
The keys of Canterbury,
Nor all the bells in London,
Shall ring to make us merry.
I will not be your joy, your sweet and only dear,
Nor walk along with you, anywhere.

O Madam, I will give to you
A pair of boots of cork,
The one was made in London,
The other made in York,
If you will be my joy, my sweet and only dear,
And walk along with me, anywhere.


I shall not, Sir, accept of you
A pair of boots of cork,
Though both were made in London,
Or both were made in York.
I will not be your joy, your sweet and only dear,
Nor walk along with you, anywhere.

O Madam, I will give you
A little gold bell,
To ring for your servants,
And make them serve you well.
If you will be my joy, my sweet and only dear,
And walk along with me, anywhere.

I shall not, Sir, accept of you
A little gold bell,
To ring for all my servants,
And make them serve me well.
I will not be your joy, your sweet and only dear,
Nor walk along with you, anywhere.

O Madam, I will give you
A broidered silken gownd,
With nine yards a-drooping
And training on the ground,
If you will be my joy, my sweet and only dear,
And walk along with me, anywhere.

O Sir, I will accept of you
A broidered silken gownd,
With nine yards a-drooping
And training on the ground,
Then I will be your joy, your sweet and only dear,
And walk along with you, anywhere.

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Poor Murdered Woman:

This song tells of the true story of a murdered woman found in Leatherhead in 1834 by the Surrey Union Hunt. It was said to have been written by Mr Friars, a Brickmaker in the area and tells of the sad tale of the woman who nobody knew but whose murder shocked and stirred the locals compassion.

Below is the newspaper report of the murder from The Times Tuesday January 14th 1834:

SUPPOSED MURDER - While the Surrey Union Fox Hounds (which are under the direction of H. Combe, Esq.) were out hunting on Saturday last, on Leatherhead Common, a most extraordinary and horrid circumstance occurred which at present is involved in great mystery. About 12 o'clock in the day, as the huntsman (Kitt) was beating about for a fox, the hounds suddenly made a dead set at a clump of bushes on the common. As no fox made his appearance, the huntsman whipped the hounds off, but they still returned to the bushes and smelling all round, would not leave. Supposing there was a fox which would not break cover, the huntsman &c., beat the bushes and in so doing, to their astonishment and horror, they discovered the body of a woman in a state of decomposition, so much so, that on attempting to remove it it was found to be impracticable. A person was placed to watch the remains, and information was sent to Dr. Evans of Leatherhead, who promptly attended. On examining the head, a severe wound was found, and from the general appearance of the body it is supposed to have lain there several months. It was placed in a shell and removed to the Royal Oak, on the common, where a coroner's inquest is summoned to assemble this day (Monday). Various rumours are afloat, some stating the unfortunate woman was the wife of a travelling tinker.

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Jackie Oates has recently done a version of this song, unfortunately it's not available yet on YouTube, but click here, and you'll be able to hear a clip.

Lyrics:

It was Hanky the squire as I've heard men say
Who rode out a-hunting on one saturday
They hunted all day but nothing they found
But a poor murdered woman laid on the cold ground

About eight o'clock, boys, our dogs they throve off
On Leatherhead Common and that was the spot
They tried all the bushes but nothing they found
But a poor murdered woman laid on the cold ground

They whipped their dogs off and they kept them away
Cried "We think it is proper that she should have fair play"
They tried all the bushes but nothing they found
But a poor murdered woman laid on the cold ground

They mounted their horses and they rode off the ground
They rode to the village and alarmed it all around
"It is late in the evening, I'm sorry to say
She cannot be removed until the next day"

The next sunday morning about eight o'clock
Some hundreds of people to the spot they did flock
For to see the poor creature, your hearts would have bled
Some cold-hearted violents came into their heads

She was took off the Common and down to some inn
And the man that has kept it, his name is John Simms
The coroner was sent for, the jury they joined
And soon they concluded and they settled their mind

The coffin was brought, in it she was laid
And took to the churchyard of this court Leatherhead
No father nor mother nor no friend I'm told
Came to see the poor creature laid under the lawn

So now I conclude and I'll finish my song
And those that have tarried shall find themselves wrong
To the last day of Georgemont a trumpet shall sound
And this soul's not in heaven, I'm afraid, when being found

I hope you have enjoyed this month's selection of folk songs. I'll be back on February 13th with some more.

Jenna Dawlish

www.jennadawlish.com

Author of two Victorian novels: Love Engineered and Sprig of Thyme.

English Folk Music Part 1

by Jenna Dawlish

This is the first post in a series about English Folk Music where I plan to take you all on an interactive journey into the folk roots of England.

I'm a huge fan of English Folk music, and in some respects it has had a bit of back seat compared to Irish and Scottish folk, as these both a very familiar and famous sound to them. But English folk has some wonderful pieces, and I hope you'll agree.

Being English myself, it was natural that I wished to learn and listen to more folk songs that are the roots of the music, traditions and customs from the country I live in.

There are thousands of English Folk songs and tunes, and I will be listing a few of my favourites in each post. Obviously the best way to enjoy this post is to listen to the songs themselves, so I have embedded YouTube links. Of course, the lyrics are very important as they tell fabulous stories of all kinds. So why not read the lyrics as you listen to the songs.

Finally, I will tell you what I know about the songs origins if possible.

Song 1:

Lets start with something I'm not going to tell you name of the song just yet. You need to listen to the song and lyrics. The artists are Spiers and Boden, one of my very favourite folk performers. Lyrics are under the embedded video - no cheating and looking at the title at the end! Just listen to the music and enjoy the story. This is performed in a more traditional style with guitar and squeezebox.

Lyrics:

Willie's tall and Willie's strong and he's born of high degree

And he has gone to Earl Richard to serve obediently.

Earl Richard had one daughter dear, the fairest to be seen

And willie fell in love with her, all in the garden green.

Well the summers night is warm and still and brightly shone the moon.

When Willie met his sweetheart in the garden all alone

"Narrow is my gown willie that want to be so wide and gone is all my fair colour that want to be my pride."

"But if my father should find out whats passed between us two. Before he would eat or drink he would hang you over that wall"

Come up to my bower Willie just as the sun goes down and catch me in your two strong arms and let me not fall down."

So when the sun was setting low he's gone up to her bower and by the pale light of the moon her window she looked over.

All in a robe of red scarlet she jumped fearless of harm.

And Willie was tall and Willie was strong and he caught her in his arms.

When night was done and day was come and the night began to keep, well up arose the Earl Richard from out of his drowsy sleep.

"I dreamed I dreadful dream last night, God grant it come to good. I dreamed I saw my daughter dear drowning in the flood."

So he's called to him his servants in by one by two by three

"oh whats become of my daughter dear that she'll not come to me

If that she's been stolen away or taken from this hall I'll make vow and I'll keep it true I will hang you one and all."

So they searched east and they searched west and they searched up and down.

They found her in the merry green wood, nursing her bonny young son

well he's taken the baby all in his arms and kissed him tenderly.

"Although I would your father hang, yet your mothers dear to me"

He kissed him once, he kissed him twice "my grandson I thee claim and Robin Hood in the Merry Green Wood, that shall be your name."

Well there's many that sing of green green grass and sing of golden corn

and there's many that sing of Robin Hood no not where he was born.

Well it wasn't in the lofty hall, nor in the painted bower.

It was in the merry green wood, all among the lily flower.

That song is called "The Birth of Robin Hood." I hope you liked it. The story of Robin Hood has been used in songs over many centuries, and many of the famous scenes used in films and TV series have been taken from those ballads. However, this one I just love because it's about his birth and has a lovely story. It is in the Oxford Book of Ballads (1910).

This website here has more about the Robin Hood ballads.

This song is available to buy on iTunes etc ;0)

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Song 2:

The second song I've chosen, relates to Linda Collison's post on this blog a few days ago about Britain's cross-dressing women. She talked about women dressing as men and joining the army to find their true loves. Well this one is just such a story in a folk song. But beware a woman scorned!

This song is called "William Taylor" and the artist is Jim Moray. This is a live performance, but again this track can be bought on iTunes. Jim Moray has some fabulous tracks, mainly English Folk. He performs folk songs in a more pop/rock style. The instrument on the left with the crank handle is a Hurdy-Gurdy.

William Taylor

I'll tell you a song of two true lovers, oh from Lichfield town they came.

The youngs mans name was William Taylor, the ladies name was Sarah Grey.

William Taylor he is listed, for a soldier he is gone.

Well he's gone and left his own true lover, for to weep and for to morn.

Sarahs parents did despise her, fill her heart with grief and woe.

So at length she's gone and told them for a soldier she would go.

So she's dressed herself in man's apparel, mans apparel she's put on.

For she has gone her own true love, for to seek him she is gone.

One day when they were exercising, exercising with the rest.

A silver chain pulled down her wasitecoat, and exposed her lily-white breast.

Well the sergeant-major stepped up to her, asking her what's brought her here.

"I've come to seek my own true lover who has called to me his dear."

"Well if you seek your own true lover, I'll pray you'll tell to me his name."

"His name it is Bold William Taylor, oh from Lichfield town he came."

"If his name is William Taylor, William Taylor is not here for he's lately married a rich young lady who has called to him his dear.

If you rise early in the morning just before the break of day, there you'll see Bold William Taylor walking out with his lady gay."

So they've called for a brace of pistol, they were brought at her command, and she's fired and shot Bold William Taylor, with his bride at his right hand.

As with all folk songs, there are often different variations in the lyrics. This is a more modern version than some of the traditional lyrics. This webpage here has more information on all the different variations that have been collected. But it's interesting to note that in one, Sarah is rewarded for her actions by being given command of a ship!

I hope you like my first selection of English Folk songs, and I'll be back next month on December 13th with some more.

Jenna.

Jenna Dawlish is the author of two Victorian novels, Sprig of Thyme and Love Engineered.