I'll Be True To My Love- Lolley (York) 1892 Kidson
[From: Journal of the Folk-Song Society, Volume 2 by Folk-Song Society (Great Britain), 1905, The title is the original title in his MS in the JFSS it was the opening line: There was an old man in the North Countrie,
R. Matteson 2018]
"I'll Be True To My Love (Berkshire Tragedy)" sung by Charles Lolley of Driffield, Yorkshire collected in 1892 by Kidson.
There was an old man in the North Countrie,
Low down, derry down dee,
There was an old man in the North Countrie,
Valid we ought to be.
There was an old man in the North Countrie,
He'd more daughters than one, two, three,
And I'll be true to my love, if my love will be true to me.
There was a young man to the North Country came,
Low down, derry down dee,
There was a young man to the North Country came.
Valid we ought to be.
There was a young man to the North Country came.
He came to court the youngest dame,
Then I'll be true to my love, if my love will be true to me.
He bought the youngest a beaver hat;
Low down, derry down dee,
The eldest was not pleased at that,
Valid we ought to be.
Oh sister, let's go to the water's brim,
Low down, derry down dee,
Oh sister, let's go to the water's brim,
Valid we ought to be,
Away they went to the water's brim,
The eldest pushed the youngest in,
And I'll be true to my love, if my love will be true to me.
Away she floated and away she swam,
Low down, derry down dee,
Until she came to the merry mill-dam,
Valid we ought to be.
The miler's daughter stood at the mill-door,
Low down, derry down dee,
When she saw this pretty maid come to shore,
Valid she ought to be.
"Oh father, oh father, what's in the mill-dam,
Low down, derry down dee,
A fish, a fish, and a new britan!"
Valid we ought to be.
"Go fetch me out my fishing-hook.
Low down, derry down dee,
And I'll draw this pretty maid out of the brook,
Valid we ought to be.
This version of " Binnorie," is often called "The Berkshire Tragedy," but this title is a rather misleading one, seeing that it was first given to it, and with no scientific authority, by Thomas Hughes, who introduced the ballad into his delightful book "The Scouring of the White Horse" in 1859. Professor Child elicited the fact that Thomas Hughes got his song from his father, who had learnt it when a boy at Ruthyn. It is well known in different forms throughout the British Isles, and the story is known throughout Europe.
The title of "The Berkshire (or Barkshire) Tragedy," properly belongs to a ballad frequently found on old broadsides, and on later broadsides by Pitts also, the scene of which is laid at Wytham Mill, above Oxford. This totally distinct ballad has usually the explanatory title "The Berkshire Tragedy, or the Witham Miller, being an account of his murdering his sweetheart."
The words here given under the title of "There was an old Man in the North Countrie," differ from any yet printed, and contain the curious word "britan," which is probably some obsolete part of a woman's dress (perhaps a cap, named a "Breton.") Could this be satisfactorily explained it might give a clue to the date of the version.—F.K.
According to Littre's French Dictionary, bretagnc is—or was—a name given to a kind of linen cloth made in Brittany, and so called in consequence ('Holland' is a similar instance). It is possible that there was a corresponding English name for the fabric, subsequently attached to some article of attire made from it. But if so, it is curious that it should not be traceable outside the ballad. Cf. the tune with "Widdicombe Fair" in Songs of the West.—A. G. G.
The word "brat" means any over-garment of coarse cloth, a pinafore or apron, (Anglo-Saxon bratt, but of Celtic origin). The ancient and mediaeval upper cloak of the Irish, and the Gaelic apron or plaid were also so-called. Possibly the original ran "and a new brat on." It is worth noticing that the other version of the story printed in this Journal (see "The Swan swims so bonny, O") was noted from Irish singers.—L. E. B.