False Limkin- Harris (NL) 1976 Lehr/Best
[From Moses Harris of Lethbridge, NL, by Genevieve Lehr and Anita Best and published as #35, Come And I Will Sing You: A Newfoundland Songbook, pp.61-62, edited by Genevieve Lehr (University of Toronto Press © 1985/2003). Pamela Morgan did a cover of this song and portions of the text are from her version (stanza 1,3,4).
R. Matteson 2015]
False Limkin- sung by Moses Harris of Lethbridge, NL, collected by Genevieve Lehr and Anita Best, 1976.
1. Said the lord to his lady, "I am going away
Beware of Bold Limkin, he will lead you astray"
"I don't care 'bout Limkin, nor no other man
For my doors are fast bolted, and he cannot come in."
2 Limkin came there 'bout the middle of the night,
He called on his jewel his own heart's delight;
'O where is your mistress,' false Limkin did say -
'She is in the top tower,' said the false nurse to he.
3 Said proud Limkin to the false nurse: 'How will I get her down?
Says the false nurse to the Lamkin "Hit the baby on the crown,"
"I can't quiet your baby with breast milk nor pap
So I pray you fair lady, come and daddle it on your lap."
4. As the lady was coming down, not thinking no harm
The Limkin betrayed her, caught her by the arm
"I got you, I got you, the Lamkin he did cry"
"And it's more to my sorrow" the poor lady replied.
5. As the lady was coming down not thinking no harm
The Limkin betrayed her, caught her by the arm
'I've got you! I've got you!' false Limkin did cry -
'And it's more to my sorrow,' that poor lady replied.
6 'Come here daughter Betsy, those few words I will speak
And hold a silver basin, your heart's blood I'll take;'
O no, daughter Betsy, I pray stay alone
And try for to see your dear father come home.'
7 As Betsy was gazing through the window so high,
She saw her dear father a-riding close by;
Saying 'Father, dear father, I pray don't blame me -
'Twas the false nurse and the Limkin betrayed your lady.'
8 There was blood in the kitchen, there was blood in the hall
There was blood in the cradle, it was worse than all;
The Limkin was hung on the gallows so high
And the false nurse was burned on the mountain near by.