Johnny Benbow- Williams (WV) c.1924 Combs
[My title, taken from last stanza. From Combs; Folk Songs from the Southern United States, 1925. Combs notes follow. This ballad is very rare in the US, especially in Appalachian region. Combs partial text is the sole surviving example from the region.
It is possible, but not confirmed, that this text may a ballad recreation submitted by Carey Woofter, c. 1924.
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
The missing stanzas reconcile the father (the king) with the seducer of his daughter, because of the remarkable beauty of the youth, and the couple are married. In Child's H and I versions the father of the girl is the king of France:
It fell upon a time when the proud king of France
Went a-hunting for five months and more,
That his dochter fell in love with Thomas of Winesbenie,
From Scotland newly come oer.
[Johnny Benbow]- contributed by L. P. Williams, De Kalb, Gilmer Co., West Virginia, c.1924.
There was a lass in the north countrie,
And her clothing it was all green;
She's look-ed over her father's castle wall
For to see her father's ships sail in, sail in,
For to see her father's ships sail in.
"What aileth thee, dear daughter?" he said,
"What makes thee so pale and wan?
I'm a-feared you've got some sore sickness,
Or have lain with some young man," etc.
"O I have got no sore sickness,
Nor I've lain with no young man;
But the true thing that grieves me to the heart
Is, my true-love is staying too long."
"O is he a lad or a duke or a Knight,
Or a man of birth and fame?
Or is he one of my own serving-men
That is lately come from Spain?"
"He is neither a lad nor a duke nor a knight,
Nor a man of birth and fame;
But he is one of your serving-men
That is lately come from Spain."
"O call him down, the Spanish dog,
O call him down to me;
Before eight o'clock tomorrow morning
Hang-ed he shall be."
"No, that forbid, dear father," she said,
"That such a thing there should be;
For if you hang my Johnny Benbow,
You'll get no more good of me."