Johnny Scot- Sprague (NB) 1928 Barry A
[From British Ballads from Maine; 1929, Barry Eckstorm and Smyth. See Barry's notes on opening page. See also Barry C taken from John's son.
R. Matteson 2015]
JOHNNY SCOT (Child 99)
A. [Johnny Scot] Taken down, September 27, 1928 from the singing of John Sprague, New Brunswick, who said that his great- grandfather came from Dundee, Scotland, and brought this song with him. Air recorded by Mr. George Herzog the same day. Sprague: "It is almost right, but not quite this way."
[music]
1/4 = 108. The singer was not quite sure of the melody.
1. O, Johnny Scot is huntin' gone,
And in the woods so wild,
The gayest lady in old England
John Scot has got with child.
2. The news is through the kitchen gone
And hunted through the hall.
The news is gone to King Edward's ears
And among the nobles all.
3. The king he wrote a broad letter
Unto Johnny Scot
[To come unto old England]
As hard as he could gain.
4. When Johnny Scot the letter read
A sorrowful man was he,
That he had to go to England
King Henry for to see.
5. O, Johnny's old father,
Sitting down by Johnny's knee,
Saying, "Ef You go to England,
You'll never return to me."
6. There being a witty[1] young lad,
Setting close by Johnny's knee,
Saying, "Four and twenty of my best life's guard
Shall bear you company."
7. O, the first town that he came to
He beat his drums all round;
The second town he came to
He blowed his horns all round;
8. And the third town that he came to
He gaz-ed all about,
And then he see his own true love
In the window looking out.
9. "Come down, come down, my pretty one,
And talk along with me."
"I can't, I can't, dear John," she says,
"For the King has bolted me.
10. "My doors they are all firm-ed locked,
My feet are fettered strong,
My windows they all bolted are,
Love, how can I get down?"
11. And when he came to the King's castle,
So loud knocked at the ring,
There's none so ready as the King himself
To arise and let him in.
12. "Are you the Duke of Salgeree,
Or James, my Scottish king,
Or are you now my bastard son,
From Flanders late got in ?"
13. I'm not the Duke of Salgeree,
Nor James, Your Scottish king'
Nor yet I'm not your bastard son,
From Flanders late got in.
My name it is Young Johnny Scott
The lad that you sent for."
14. "If your name it is Young Johnny Scot,
As I take you to be,
Tomorrow morning at the eight of the clock
You'll hang upon the tree."
15. The King and all his merry men
[Came] To see young Johnny slain;
The Queen and all her merry maids
Came tripping o'er the plain.
16. The King he had a grey-old man,
An Eyetalian[2] dog were he;
Between his eyes he measured spans,
His shoulders ell-es three.
17. But Young Johnny, being witty,
Like a swallow he did fly,
And upon the p'int of his broadsword
The Eyetalian dog did die.
18. He caught his sword all by the hilt
And whirls it o'er again,
"If you have any more of your English dogs,
You fain would have slain?"
19. "A clerk, a clerk," the King he cries,
"To read his poshing free!"
"A priest, a priest," Young Johnny cries,
"To wed my love and me!"
20. He clasped his horn all to his mouth,
He blowed both loud and shrill,
The news is gone to Scoterland,
In spite of England's will.
1. Witty-wighty, that is, strong, brisk, sturdy.
2. Italian