The Keach I' The Creel- Carson (MA) 1908 Barry B from BBFM
[The Keach I' The Creel is, I'm sure, Barry's title. It's from MS collection of Barry found in the Harvard University Library. Barry et all note:
This version, printed here for comparison, is nearest to Child A, the stanzas corresponding, respectively, to 1, 2, 8, 9, 13, 17, of Child's text.
I've taken the liberty to fill in the parts of the verses not remembered, of course verses would have to be added to make the plot complete.
R. Matteson 2013]
B. "The Keach I' The Creel." MS Collection of Phillips Barry (Harvard university Library), as taken down April 25, and May 2, 1908, from the singing of Mrs. S. Carson, native of County Tyrone, Ireland.
This little maid went up the street,
Some fresh fish for to buy,
And the little town-clerk he heard of it,
And he followed her by-and-by.
Titty itty ol tol, liro lido,
Titty itty ol tol liro lee.
2."Oh, where are you going, my pretty fair maid?
Oh, where are you going?" said he,
[For if the night were ever so dark,
I'd come and visit thee.]
Titty itty ol tol, liro lido,
Titty itty ol tol liro lee.
3. "Oh, where are you going, old man?" she says,
"Oh, where are you going so soon?
You've deprived me of my evening prayer,
Just at my lying down."
Titty itty ol tol, liro lido,
Titty itty ol tol liro lee.
4. ["Oh ill betide ye, silly auld wife,
And an ill death may ye die! ]
"She's just the prayer book in her arms,
She's praying for you and I."
Titty itty ol tol, liro lido,
Titty itty ol tol liro lee.
5. ["O help! O help! O hinny, now, help!
O help, O hinny, this day!]
You prayed for the devil to break my neck,
But he took me clean away."
6 "A blue, a blue, a bit of blue,
A blue last night on green,
And if any old woman is jealous of her daughter,
That she may get a rock in the creel."
Titty itty ol tol, liro lido,
Titty itty ol tol liro lee.