Andrew Batan- Degreenia (VT) pre1949 Flanders B
[From Flanders' Ancient Ballads, 1965. Her notes follow.
R. Matteson 2013]
B. 'Andrew Batan.' Sung by Oscar Degreenia of West Carnwall, Connecticut, to H. H. F. and Mrs. F. S. Beal, as sung by his parents to their eight children, living in a log cabin in Barton, Vermont. Mr. Degreenia has lived the last seventeen years in West Cornwall. Published first in Ballads Migrant in New England.
H. H. F., Collector May 16, 1949
Structure: A B C Scale: hexachordal; D (4,4,4,4); Rhythm B; Contour:
t.c. G flat.
Andrew Batan
There were three brothers in merry Scotland,
Three brothers they were all three
And they cast lots from one to the other
To see which the robber would be.
The lot did fall on Andrew Batan,
The youngest of the three,
That he would go robbing all on the high sea
To maintain his two brothers and he.
As he was sailing one cold winter's night
A light did soon appear.
They saw a ship sailing far off and far off
And at length it came sailing near.
"Who art, who art," cried Captain Charles Stewart,
"Who art that's sailing so nigh?"
"We art the bold robbers from fair Scotland.
Will you please for to let us pass by?"
"Oh, no, oh, no, that thing we never shall do,
That thing we never shall do.
Your ship and your cargo we'll all take away
And salt water your bodies shall see.
Your ship and your cargo we'll all take away
And salt water your bodies shall see."
The news soon came on England's home shore-
King George he wore the crown-
That the rich merchant's goods had been taken away
And the crew and the captain was drowned,
That the rich merchant's goods had been taken away
And the crew and the captain was drowned.
"Go and build me a ship," cries Captain Charles Stewart;
"Go and build it safe and sure;
I'll take the command from Andrew Batan
Or my life I will never endure."
As he was sailing one cold winter's night
A light did soon appear.
They saw a ship sailing far off and far off
And at length it came sailing near.
"Who art, who art?" cries Captain Charles Stewart;
"Who art, that's sailing so nigh?"
"We are the bold robbers from fair Scotland,
Will you please for to let us pass by?"
"Oh no, oh no, that thing we never shall do;
That thing we never shall do.
Your ship and your cargo we'll all take away
And your bodies fair England will see."
"Come on, come on," cried Andrew Batan,
"We fear you not one pin,
For we're brass without that makes the fine show
But we are all steel within."
Broadsides, broadsides they quickly put on
And cannons loud did roar
And Captain Charles Stewart took Andrew Batan
And they hung him on England's own shore.