Andrew Batting- Kneeland (ME) 1914 Flanders G
[From Flanders' Ancient Ballads, 1965.
R. Matteson 2013]
G. Andrew Batting. The word's of this ballad were written down by Mrs. Bertha J. Kneeland, of Searsport, Maine, 1914, from the singing of her father-in-law, James Henry Kneeland, whose grandfather, Edward, Kneeland, came from Boston to Cape Jellison about 1785. M. Olney, Collector; June 17,1941.
Structure: A B C D C D (2,2,2,2,2,2); Rhythm A and B; Conture: arc; Scale: Mixolydian; t.c. C. (In most stanzas E is flatted.)
"What thou! What thou!" said Andrew Batting;
"What thou that come sailing so nigh?"
"We are the rich merchants upon the salt seas,
O, please to let us pass by--
We are the rich merchants upon the salt seas,
O, please to let us pass by."
"Ah, no! Ah, no!" said Andrew Batting,
"Such a thing there never can be,
Your ship and your cargo we'll both take away,
And your bodies give to the salt sea--
Your ship and your cargo we'll both take away,
And your bodies give to the salt sea."
"Build me a ship," said Captain Charles Stuart,
"And build her strong and sure,
That I may bring in proud Andrew Batting,
Or my life I will never endure--
That I may bring in proud Andrew Batting,
Or my life I will never endure."
We cruis-ed north and we cruis-ed south
For the space of three weeks or more;
At length we spied a ship sailing far off, far off,
And at length she came sailing so nigh--
At length we spied a ship sailing far off, far off,
And at length she came sailing so nigh.
"What thou? What thou?" said Captain Charles Stuart,
"What thou that come sailing so nigh?"
"We are the Scotch pirates upon the salt seas;
O, please to let us pass by-
We are the Scotch pirates upon the salt seas;
O, please to let us pass by."
"Ah, no! Ah, no!" said Captain Charles Stuart,
"Such a thing there never can be;
Your ship and your cargo we'll both take away,
And your bodies give to the salt sea--
Your ship and your cargo we'll both take away,
And your bodies give to the salt sea."
About! About! and they merrily fought
For the space of three hours or more,
At length Captain Charles Stuart took Andrew Batting
And brought him to fair England's shore--
At length Captain Charles Stuart took Andrew Batting
And brought him to fair England's shore.