Fair Annie- Lethcoe (VA) 1921 Davis
[From Traditional Ballads of Virginia; 1929; Davis.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
"Fair Annie." collected by Mr. John Stone. Sung by Mrs. Martha Elizabeth Lethcoe, of Damascus, Va. "Washington County, September 2, 1921. with music. "I called on Mrs Lethcoe after supper. She said she knew a little of the ballad; but having gotten a start, she kept on. Darkness came on; writing was difficult; but for fear of breaking-her train of thought, I kept on. I wrote the last stanza without seeing it, taking a whole page of my note-book" (Mr. Stone).
1. “Comb back your hair, Fair Annie,” he said,
“Comb it back into your crown.
For you shall look a fair maid's life
When I bring my bridal[1] home.”
2. “Oh, how can I look a fair maid's life
A maid all in her bloom,
When six fair sons I've had by you
And another yet to come?”
3. And on the back door he hung a silk towel,
Hanging on a silver pin,
For Fair Annie to wipe her eyes
As she passed out and in.
4 Six months being gone and nine coming on,
Fair Annie thought the time long;
She took her spy glass in her hand
And up her bower she ran.
5. She looked east, she looked west,
She has looked all under the sun [2],
And she saw Lord Thomas
Bringing his bridal home.
6 "You are welcome, Lord Thomas," she said,
'You are welcomed home by me;
You and your men, your merry men
Are all as welcome as one.''
7 She waited on them all day long,
With strong brew, ale and wine;
She taken herself of cold well water
Io keep her spirits mild.
8 She waited on them all day long,
Fair Annie thought the time long;
She taken her flute in her hand,
And up her bower she run.
9. She fluted east, she fluted west,
She fluted loud and shrill;
She wished her seven sons were seven grey hounds,
And her a wolf on the hill.
10 "Come down stairs, Fair Annie," she says,
"Come down stairs," says she.
"Tell me the name of your father dear
And I'll tell mine to thee."
11 " Prince Douglas was my father's name,
Queen Chatten was my mother,
King Henry was my brother dear,
Queen Mary was my sister."
12 "If Prince Douglas[3] was your father dear,
Queen Chatten[4] was your mother,
King Henry was your brother dear,
I'm sure I am your sister.
13 "I have seven ships sailing on the sea,
All loaded to the brim,
Six of them I'll give to you,
If you'll have Lord Thomas hung;
Six of them I'll give to you,
And one will carry me home."
1 For bride, probably substituted for metrical reasons. Compare briden of Campbell and Sharp text.
2. "She looked all around"
3. Cf. Quince Dudley of Campbell and Sharp text.
4. Cf. Queen Catherine of Child B, and Queen Chatry of Campbell and Sharp text.