Andrew Batan - Chesbro (AR) 1958 Parler A
[From: Ozark Folksong Collection online Reel 294, Item 12. For Mary Celestia Parler. Collected and transcribed by George Lay (Mr. Chesbro's grandson). Listen:
http://digitalcollections.uark.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/1612/rec/1
A recording of Lay is also found in Max Hunter's collection. See bottom of this page for transcription (edited for mistakes in spelling and punctuation).
R. Matteson 2016]
Andrew Batan - Sung by Mr. J. R. Chesbro of Heber Springs, Arkansas October 25, 1958
There were three brothers in old Scotland,
Three merry ones were they;
And they cast lots to see which of them,
Would go robbing all o'er the salt sea.
The cast it fell on Andrew Batan,
The youngest of the three;
That he should go robbing all o'er the salt sea,
To maintain his two brothers, and he.
He scarce had sailed one cold winters night,
When a ship he did espy;
A ship that went sailing far off and far round,
And at last it came sailing close by.
"Who's there? Who's there?" said Andrew Batan,
"Who's there I do espy?"
We are the bold merchants from Old Engerlund,
Will you please sir to let us pass by?
"Oh no. Oh no." says Andrew Batan
Such a thing as that never could be;
We'll take away all of your bright shining gold,
Let your merry men drown in the sea.
Twas there the battle began,
Twas there the loud cannon did roar;
And they scarce had fought an hour or more,
Till Captain Charles Stuart gave o'er.
The news went back to Old Engerlund,
King George, he wore the crown;
And he offered up a large sum of gold,
If Andrew Batan could be found.
Go build a boat, said Captain Charles Thomas,
Go build it broad and sure;
And if I don't bring to you Andrew Batan,
No longer my life will endure.
He scarce had sailed one cold winters night,
When a ship he did espy;
A ship that went sailing far off and far round,
And at last it came sailing close by.
"Who's there? Who's there?" said Captain Charles Thomas,
"Who's there I do espy?"
"We are the bold robbers from merry Scotland,
Will you please sir to let us pass by?"
"Oh no. Oh no." says Captain Charles Thomas,
"Such a thing as that never could be;
We'll take away all of your bright shining gold,
Let your wicked men drown in the sea."
"Fire on! Fire on!" says Andrew Batan,
"We don't fear you one pin;
Sure if you have all of your bright steel without,
Sure we have the bright steel within."
Twas there the battle began,
Twas there the loud cannon did roar;
And they scarce had fought an hour or more,
Till Captain Charles Thomas gave o'er.
"Go back, Go back to Old Engerlund,
And tell your King of me;
That he may remain King o'er the dry land,
And I'll remain King o'er the sea."
____________________________________
ANDREW BATAN
Max Hunter Collection (Springfield-Greene County Library, Missouri) 0273 (MFH 6)
Andrew Batan- As sung by George Lay[1], Heber Springs, Arkansas on November 5, 1958
VERSE 1
There were three brothers, in ole Scotland
Three merry ones were they
And they casted lots to see which of them
Would go robbing all o'er the salt sea
VERSE 2
The cast, it fell, on Andrew Batan
The youngest of the three
That he should go robbing all o'er the salt sea
To maintain his two brothers an' he.
VERSE 3
He scarce had sailed, one cold winters night
When a ship, he did aspie
A ship that went sailing far off and far round
Till a last it came sailing close by
VERSE 4
"Who's there, who's there?" said Andrew Batan
"Who's there, I do espy?"
We are the bold merchants from ole Engerlund
Won't you please sir, to let us pass by."
VERSE 5
"O no, O no," said Andrew Batan
"Such a thing is that never could be
We'll take away all of your bright shining gold
Let your merry men drown in the sea."
VERSE 6
T'was there, the battle begun
T'was there, the loud cannon did roar
And they scarce had fought an hour or more
Till, Captain Charles Stewart gave o'er[2]
VERSE 7
Th news went back to ole Engerlund
King George, he wore the crown
And he offered up a large sum of gold
If Andrew Batan could be found.
VERSE 8
"Go build a boat," said Captain Charles Thomas
"Go build it broad an' sure
And if I don't bring to you Andrew Batan
No longer my life will endure."
VERSE 9
He scarce had sailed, one cold winters night
When a ship, he did espy;
A ship that went sailing for off an' far round
Till at last it came sailing close by.
VERSE 10
"Who's there, who's there," said Captain Charles Thomas
"Who's there, I do espy?"
"We are the bold robbers from merry Scotland
Will you please sir, to let us pass by."
VERSE 11
"O no, O no," said Captain Charles Thomas
"Such a thing as that never could be
We'll take away all of your bright shining gold
Let your wicked men drown in the sea."
VERSE 12
"Fire on, fire on," said Andrew Batan
"We don't fear you one pin.
Sure, if you have all of your bright steel without
Sure, we have the bright steel within."
VERSE 13
T'was there, the battle begun
T'was there, the loud cannon did roar
And they scarce had fought an hour or more
Till Captain Charles Thomas gave o'er.
VERSE 14
Go back, go back, to ole Engerlund
And tell your king, of me
That he may remain king o'er the dry land
But, I'll remain king o'er the sea
1. George was a student at the University of Arkansas and he said, he learned this song from his Grandfather.
2. This is corrupted here- this is the rich merchant ship, not captained by Charles Stewart.