'Gude Earl Brand and Auld Carle Hude,' the Paisley Magazine, 1828, p. 321, communicated by W. Motherwell
[No informant named, from The Paisley Magazine, June 2, 1828. Child includes this version in Volume 2 of ESPB saying, "This ballad was, therefore, not first given to the world by Mr. Robert Bell, in 1857, but nearly thirty years earlier by Motherwell, in the single volume of the Paisley Magazine, a now somewhat scarce book. I am indebted for the information and for a transcript to Mr. Murdoch, of Glasgow, and for a second copy to Mr. Macmath, of Edinburgh."
R. Matteson 2011, 2018]
Gude Earl Brand and Auld Carle Hude- from The Paisley Magazine, June 2, 1828, communicated by William Motherwell. "Sung to a long, drawling, monotonous tune."
1 'Gude Earl Brand, I long to see
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
All your grey hounds running over the lea.'
And the brave knights in the valley.
2 'Gude lady fair, I have not a steed but one,
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
But you shall ride and I shall run.'
And the brave knights in the valley
3 They're ower moss and they're ower mure,
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
And they saw neither rich nor pure.
And the brave knights in the valley
4 Until that they came to auld Karl Hude;
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
He's aye for ill and never for gude.
And the brave knights in the valley
5 'Gude Earl Brand, if ye love me,
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
Kill auld Karl Hude, and gar him die.'
And the brave knights in the valley
6 'O fair ladie, we'll do better than sae:
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
Gie him a penny and let him gae.'
And the brave knights in the valley
7 'Gude Earl Brand, whare hae ye been,
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
Or whare hae ye stown this lady sheen?'
And the brave knights in the valley
8 'She's not my lady, but my sick sister,
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
And she's been at the wells of Meen.'
And the brave knights in the valley
9 'If she was sick, and very sair,
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
She wadna wear the red gold on her hair.
And the brave knights in the valley
10 'Or if she were sick, and like to be dead,
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
She wadna wear the ribbons red.'
And the brave knights in the valley
11 He cam till he cam to her father's gate,
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
And he has rappit furious thereat.
And the brave knights in the valley
12 'Where is the lady o this hall?'
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
'She's out wi her maidens, playing at the ball.'
And the brave knights in the valley
13 'If you'll get me fyfteen wale wight men,
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
Sae fast as I'll fetch her back again.'
And the brave knights in the valley
14 She's lookit ower her left collar-bane:
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
'O gude Earl Brand, we baith are taen.'
And the brave knights in the valley
15 'Light down, light down, and hold my steed;
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
Change never your cheer till ye see me dead.
And the brave knights in the valley
16 'If they come on me man by man,
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
I'll be very laith for to be taen.
And the brave knights in the valley
17 'But if they come on me one and all,
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
The sooner you will see me fall.'
And the brave knights in the valley
18 O he has killd them all but one,
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
And wha was that but auld Karl Hude.
And the brave knights in the valley
19 And he has come on him behind,
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
And put in him the deadly wound.
And the brave knights in the valley
20 O he has set his lady on,
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
And he's come whistling all along.
And the brave knights in the valley
21 'Gude Earl Brand, I see blood:'
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
'It's but the shade o my scarlet robe.'
And the brave knights in the valley
22 They cam till they cam to the water aflood;
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
He's lighted down and he's wushen aff the blood.
And the brave knights in the valley
23 His mother walks the floor alone:
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
'O yonder does come my poor son.
And the brave knights in the valley
24 'He is both murderd and undone,
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
And all for the sake o an English loon.'
And the brave knights in the valley
25 'Say not sae, my dearest mother,
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
Marry her on my eldest brother.'
And the brave knights in the valley
26 She set her fit up to the wa,
Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
She's fallen down dead amang them a'.
And the brave knights in the valley