Lady Margaret- Kent compilation (NL) 1951 Peacock
[From Peacock's Songs Of The Newfoundland Outports, Volume 2, pp.390-395. Notes from MacEdward Leach and the Songs of Atlantic Canada (online) follow. See also the two version collected by Leach.
R. Matteson 2015]
Michael Kent was born at Cape Broyle on November 23, 1904, the eldest son of Rose and John Kent. When he was ten years old, he went fishing with his father in a dory. In 1940, Mike went to Scotland to work with the forestry unit. He also worked at the American military base in St. John's and Goose Bay. His last job was in LaManche Provincial Park. He married Ester Mackey in November 1948. Some time after that they bought the house in the meadow next to Jim and Matilda Rice. Mike and Essie lived in this house, which had originally been owned by Mary Whalen and family (who also sang for Leach), until their deaths.
Mike loved good times and was a great entertainer. He sang, danced, played harmonica and recited. He claimed he knew 300 songs. One of his favourites was "The Tree on the Hill," and his most memorable character performance was of Tim Finnegan in Finnegan's Wake. Mike performed this at local concerts.
Mike was an extraordinary individual whose unforgettable character was known all along the Southern Shore. Stories about him abound. (Biography by Carolyn Hawkins.)
Mike was also recorded by Peacock in 1951 and 1952. He was Leach's most prolific source in Cape Broyle, recording many songs and four harmonica tunes. He was also the neighbor of Jim Rice, another prolific singer who worked with both Leach and Peacock.
Lady Margaret- Collected in 1951 from Mike Kent of Cape Broyle, NL, by Kenneth Peacock and published in Songs Of The Newfoundland Outports, Volume 2, pp.390-395, by the National Museum of Canada. Peacock made a collation based largely on Mike Kent's variant which is the most complete. Verses 2 to 6 inclusive are from the version by Mrs. William Nicolle of Rocky Harbour, NL; verse 7 from variants by Mrs. Wallace Kinslow of Isle aux Morts and Mrs. Mary Ann Galpin of Codroy, NL. Verses 8 to 14 are Mike Kent's, and the last verse again from Mrs. William Nicolle.
Lady Margaret was sitting in her own lone home,
That was built of lime and stone;
Lady Margaret was sitting in her own lone home,
When she heard a dead man's moan.
"Is it my father Thomas?" she said,
"Or is it my brother John,
Or is it my own true love sweet William
From Scotland home has come?"
"'Tis not your father Thomas," he said,
"'Tis not your brother John,
But it is your true love sweet William
From Scotland home has come."
"Did you bring to me any diamonds or pearls,
Did you bring to me the ring,
Did you bring to me any token at all
That a true love ought to bring?"
"I have brought to you no diamonds or pearls,
I have brought to you no ring,
But I've brought to you my white winding sheet,
That my body was buried in."
"Oh, love, where are your red rosy cheeks,
That ofttimes used to bloom?"
"Oh they are rotten and now are forgotten,
By the love I lost so soon."
He took her by the lily-white hand
And bid her company,
He took her by the apron band
Sayng, "Follow, follow me."
She tucked her underskirts one by one,
Just about her knee;
And over the hills on a cold winter's night,
In a dead man's company.
They walked and they talked alone together
Till the cocks began to crow.
"It's time for the dead and the living to part,
Lady Margaret, I must go."
"Is there any room at your head," she said,
"Is there any room at your feet?
Is there any room about you at all
Where I may lie down and sleep?"
"My father is at my head," he said,
"And my mother is at my feet,
And there's three Hell Hounds lie about my side,
Where my poor soul should sleep.
"One is for my drunkenness,
Another is for my pride;
And the other is for promising a fair pretty maid,
That she should be my bride."
She took a cross all from her bosom,
And she smoted him on the breast,
Saying, "Here's a token for you Sweet William,
God grant you a happy night's rest."
"I am thankful to you Lady Margaret," he said,
"I am thankful unto you;
If the dead are bound to pray for the living,
Then I am bound to pray for you.
Good night, good night, Lady Margaret," he said.
"Good night, good night," said she,
"I hope the very next time we do meet
In heaven we both shall be."