121. The Rambling Boy


121

The Rambling Boy

This British (perhaps Irish) highwayman's song, under various
names, is well known in England — reported from Sussex, Hampshire,
Worcestershire, Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall — and has been
found in this country in Virginia (FSV 282-3), Kentucky, Ten-
nessee, and Missouri ; see BSM 136, and add to the references there
given the Ozarks (OFS 11 83-5), and Kentucky (FSMEU 215-16).
Our text differs from those reported from Kentucky and Tennessee
in that in them he seems to have been set free whereas ours is a
normal goodnight, and that in them he does not put the blame on
his wife as he does in our last stanza. In the Missouri text he
appears not to be married.

'The Ramblin' Boy.' Secured by Mrs. Sutton (while she was still Maude
Minish) from the singing of Mrs. Ann Coflfey of the Brushies, Cald-
well county, of whom Miss Minish notes : "It is very likely that she
felt some of the significance of the story ; one of her two sons was con-
demned to death for murder and the other was a deserter from the army
when I heard her sing it" — which would seem to date the singing some
time before 191 9. Mrs. Sutton also reported the tune as sung by her
sister. Miss Pearl Minish.

I They call me rude, the ramblin' boy,

Through many bright shores that I've been through.
Through London City I made my way
And spent my money in a ball and play.

 

I married there a darling wife.

I loved her dearly as my life,

I dressed her up so lovely and so gay,

She caused me to rob the king's highway,

I robbed them all, I will declare,
I robbed them on James Island Square,
I robbed them of ten thousand pound
One night when I was a-ramblin' around.

 

356 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE

4 I've got dry goods to carry me through,
Two bright swords, and a pistol too,

A pretty fair maid to face my foe

With a blue silk ribbon and silver and gold.

5 And now I am condemned to die.
For me a many a poor girl will cry ;
But all their tears can't set me free
Nor save me from the gallows tree.

6 Mother says she'll weep and mourn,
Father says he's left alone,
Sister says she'll meet despair
With a diamond ring and curly hair.

7 Come all young men, take warning by this,
Never to marry a ficety turst.^

She'll cause you to rob. to murder and to steal,
She'll cause you "to hang on the gallows tree.
-----------
 

 

121

The Rambling Boy

'The Ramblin' Boy.' Sung by anonymous singer. Recorded as ms score; no
date or place given. Probably before 1919. Very closely related to the follow-
ing 121(1).


For melodic relationship cf. **OFS 11 84.
Scale: Hexatonic (4), plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: abb^c (2,2,2,2).

 

 

I2l(l)
'The Ramblin' Boy.' Sung by Mrs. Myra Barnett Miller. Recorded probably
at Lenoir, in 1939, 1940, or 1941. Very closely related to the preceding version.


For melodic relationship cf. **OFS 11 84.
Scale: Mode III, plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: abb^c (2,2,2,2).

 

121(2)

'The Rambling Boy.' Sung by Mrs. G. L. Bostic. Recorded at Mooresboro,
Cleveland county, August 7, 1934.

 

Scale: Mixolydian, plagal (with interchangingly flattened and natural seventh).
Tonal Center: f. Structure: abcdd (2,2,2,2,2).

 

121(3)

'The Rake and Rambling Boy.' Sung by Mrs. James York. Recorded at Olin,
Iredell county, August 14, 1939.

Scale: Mixolydian. Tonal Center: d. Structure: aaibb^ (2,2,2,2) = ab (4,4).