105. Scarboro Sand (Robin Hood Side)


105

ScARBORo Sand (Robin Hood Side)

Sharp (FSE iv 22-4) gives a shortened form of this, three
stanzas, from Oxfordshire; Ord (Bothy Songs 332-3) says that
though of English origin it is a favorite song in northeastern Scot-
land. Elsewhere I have found it reported only from North Caro-
lina (FSRA 70-1, the same version as ours). The puzzling 'Robin
Hood Side' (which Chappell prints 'Robin Hood's side') is re-
placed in Ord's text by 'Robin Hood's Bay,' which is a fishing
village on the Yorkshire coast.

'Scarboro Sand.' Contributed by Mrs. Charles K. Tillett of Wanchese,
Roanoke Island, in 1923. Another copy, with the alternate title given
above, was supplied in 1920 by P. D. Midgett, Jr., of Wanchese.

1 There was a fair lady in Scarboro did dwell,

She was courted by a sailor, whom she loved him full well.
They were promised to be married when he did return ;
But mark, a misfortune upon him did frown.

2 As he was a-sailing all on the salt sea

A storm there did arise, and unto his great surprise,
A storm there did arise, and the billows did roar.
Which driven many a poor seaman upon a lee shore.

3 As soon as she heard her true lover was dead,

She run ravin' and distracted, quite out of her head.
Crying, 'Here's adieu to all pleasures, my joy has all fled,
My grave shall be instead of a new married bed.'

4 As she was a-walking on Scarboro Sand,
Crying and lamenting and wringing her hands.

Crying, 'O ye cruel billows, w^ash my true love on shore!
Oh, for his sweet face, I may behold it once more !'

 

330 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE

5 As she was walking around Robin Hood Side
She spied a young sailor washed up by the tide ;

And as she drew nearer to him, in a maze she did stand,
For she knew it was her own true love by the mark on his
hand.

6 Crying, 'Oh, I've found you, my own dearest dear.'
She hugged and she kissed him a thousand times o'er,
Saying, 'Now I'm quite willing to lay by your side.'
And in a few minutes this fair maid she died.

7 In Robin Hood's Churchyard this couple was laid,
A large double tombstone placed over their heads.
Crying, 'Tender-hearted lovers, as you do pass by.
Oh, weep and lament where this couple does lie.'
 

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105
ScARBORO Sand (Robin Hood Side)
'Scarboro Sand.' Sung by C. K. Tillett. Recorded at Wanchese, Roanoke
Island, in 1920 and 1923. This is again only a fragment, although somewhat
more extended than the previous one. At "But," the record breaks off with a
great noise. This ballad is the only one contributed by Tillett which underwent,
for unknown reasons, considerable changes, judging from a later recording
that was printed in another collection. Cf. FSRA 70. The changes mentioned
were, in this case, not for the better.

 

Scale: Heptachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: abb^ (?). It is quite
evident that the scale material, and especially the structure, cannot adequately
be determined from a melody that is only fragmentary.