The Bailer's Daughter of Ireland Town- Clevenger (NJ) 1939
[From: Some Ballads and Folk Songs from New Jersey by Herbert Halpert; The Journal of American Folklore; Vol. 52, No. 203 (Jan. - Mar., 1939), pp. 52-69. His notes follow,
R. Matteson 2015]
THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER OF ISLINGTON (Child 105)
THE BAILER'S DAUGHTER OF IRELAND TOWN
Allen Clevenger sang me this ballad. He could not recall where he had learned it. For other versions and references see Sharp-KarpeleIs, No. 30. Add Flanders,A Garland of Green Mountain Songs, No. 21; Flanders, Country Songs of Vermont, No. 3; Hudson, Herzog and Halpert, Folk Tunes from Mississippi, No. 4.
Mr. Clevenger sang this ballad with a very definite rhythm. The last two lines in the final stanza he tacked on hurriedly using at first the second half of the tune. On the last line, he suddenly dropped into speech, saying the words very quickly and ended with "that's all there's to it". This occurred again on a later repetition of the ballad.
1. Oh there was a youth and a noble youth,
The squire's only son
He fell in love with the bailer's daughter,
It's of fair Ireland town.
2. But it's when his parents came to know
The venshuns of their son,
They sent him down to fair London town
Apprentice there to learn.
3. For you to mind his books and study law
And leave his dear behind,
"Oh she I adore if I never see her more
And she still runs in my mind."
4. It's when the youth of fair Ireland town
Came out for to sport and play,
Oh the bailer's daughter was amongst the rest
So shyly stowed away.*
5. She dressed herself in men's arrage (!),
The roads bein' dusty and dry,
And it's who should she meet but her own true love
As he came ridin' by.
6. She boldli step-ped up to him,
Took hold of the bridle rein,
"One penny, one penny, one penny," cries she,
"To relieve this trouble of mine."
7. "Where are you from, my brave young youth,
What city, country, or town?"
"It's I am from fair Ireland town
Where I bore a-many a frown."
8. "If you are from fair Ireland town,
Fair Ireland town," cries he,
"What news, what news from the bailer's daughter,
Pray tell it unto me?"
9. "The bailer's daughter she is dead
And her green grave lies low,
The bailer's daughter she is dead
Being dead some months ago."
10. Then it's, "Take from me my milk white steed,
My saddle and my bow,
I will go to some furrin' count-er-ey
Where no one does me know."
11. "No you need not give your milk-white steed,
Your saddle nor your bow,
Nor you need not go to some furrin' count-er-ey
Where it's no one does you know.
12. "For the bailer's daughter, she's not dead
But standin' by your side."
Then he lit so light from his milk-white steed,
And he kissed her over and over again,
Saying, "Here I meet with my own true love
I never expect' to see again."
* Probably for "She slyly stole away."