Henry's Tribute- Roberts (KY) 1932 Niles B
[From: The Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles, 1961. This is likely a ballad recreation, perhaps from a collected scrap of a ballad.
The question remains: Since Niles had a hitherto unknown Child ballad in 1913 why didn't he come forward with this historic find?
R. Matteson 2015]
Henry's Tribute
(Niles No. 49 B)
TAKEN Down from the recitation of Porter Roberts in the Hibbler Hotel, Hazard, Ky., July of 1932:
Oh, Henry lay a-restin'
Upon his bed of silk.
The King of France's tribute
'S been owin' so long,
We have no bread and milk.
The King of France's tribute
'S been owin' so long,
We have no bread and milk.
Oh, fa-la-la-la-La, bugger-i-loo,
Oh, fa-la-la-1a-la, owl says "Hoo."