Andrew Bordeen- Delorme (NY) c.1880 Flanders I
[From Flanders' Ancient Ballads, 1965. Her notes follow.
R. Matteson 2013]
I. Andrew Bordeen. As sung by Mrs. Lily M. Delorme of Cadyaille, New York, born in Schuyler Falls, New York, in 1869. Mrs. Delorme's father was born in Starksboro, Vermont; her mother in Schuyler Falls. This ballad was learned in her home as a child. M. Olney, Collector; December 8, 1941.
Structure: A1 A2 As B (2,2,2,2); Rhythm A; Contour: undulating; Scale: anhemitonic pentatonic; t.c. D.
There was three brothers in fair Scotland,
Three loving brothers were they;
And they lot and they lot to see which of them
Should go robbing all on the salt sea.
The lot it fell on Andrew Bordeen,
The youngest brother of three,
That he should go robbing all on the salt sea
To maintain his two brothers all and he.
He had not sailed but leagues two or three,
Before a vessel he saw;
"Who's there, who's there?" cried Andrew Bordeen,
"Who's there come sailing so nigh?"
"We're three merchant ships from old England
And if you please let us pass by."
"Oh, no! Oh, no!" said Andrew Bordeen,
"Oh, no! that never can be;
We'll have your ship and your cargo, too,
And your bodies we'll drown in the sea."