Little John Garland- Jackson (KY) pre1956 Greenway
[From Aunt Molly Jackson and Robin Hood: A Study in Folk Re-Creation by John Greenway; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 69, No. 271 (Jan. - Mar., 1956), pp. 23-38.
This is a ballad recreation by Jackson who claimed, that "she learned these as a four-year-old from her great-grandmother, Nancy Robinson, who was then ninety-two. She maintains also that it was a tradition in her family that many of the Robin Hood ballads were written by her paternal ancestors, the Garlands, before they came to America in the eighteenth century." (Greenway).
Greenway concludes: "Although Aunt Molly's version is further from the Child text than either of the two variants that have been published as authentic survivals, there does not seem to be any doubt that the Child text is the source of Aunt Molly's ballad."
R. Matteson 2015]
LITTLE JOHN GARLAND AND ROBIN HOOD
(Child 125: Robin Hood and Little John)[4]
(I54:2)
1. Of Little John and bold Robin Hood
A story to you I will tell;
Which being rightly understood,
I am sure will please you well.
2. When Robin Hood was about twenty years old
He met with Little John;
They had a fight, and Robin Hood
Was tumbled in the pond.
3. Now Little John was large and strong
He was seven foot tall;
And always when he struck a man,
He always had to fall.
4. Now I will tell you how they first met
If you will listen awhile,
For this is one joke among all the rest
I am sure it will make you smile.
5. Now Robin Hood said to his jolly bowmen,
"I want you to stay in this grove,
And carefully listen to hear me call
While through the forest I rove.
6. 'We have had no sport for fourteen long days,
So out looking for excitement I go;
And should I get beat till I cannot retreat,
My horn for you loudly I will blow."
7. Then Robin Hood shook hands with his merry men all
And bid them at present goodbye;
Then by the side of a brook a journey he took
And a tall stranger he happened to spy.
8. They happened to meet on a long narrow bridge
And neither of them would give way;
Said bold Robin Hood as proudly he stood,
"I will show you the Nottinghams' play."
9. Then from his quiver an arrow he drew,
A broad arrow with a long goose wing;
Then Little John replied, "I will sure tan your hide
If you offer to touch your bowstring."
10. Said brave Robin Hood, "You say that you would,
But if I ever bend my bow,
I will shoot a dart right through your proud heart
Before you could strike me one blow."
11. "You talk like a coward," said Little John Garland,
"With a bow and a sword as you stand;
You could shoot at my chest, but sir, I protest,
I don't even have a staff in my hand."
12. "I am not a coward," said bold Robin Hood,
"And the name of a coward I scorn;
And to prove you do lie, my bow and sword I'll lay by,
And the truth of your manhood I shall try."
13. Then Robin stepped over to a thicket of trees
And chose him a staff of red oak;
And over to Little John Garland he stepped
And these are the words that he spoke:
14. "You see my staff is large and tough;
Now here on this bridge we will play;
And if you knock me in, we will say you have won-
Now, stranger, what do you say?"
15. "With all of my heart," Little John replied,
"I am too proud to give in
As long as I'm able to handle my staff,
And believe me, I'm sure I will win."
16. So they started the fight, and they struck left and right;
Robin Hood made his oak staff ring.
Then Little John said, "You must be repaid;
I shall give you the very same thing."
17. Then Little John gave Robin a lick on the head
That started his blood to flow.
"Fight on, stranger," said bold Robin Hood,
"You are a brave good fighter, I know."
18. Then thick and fast Little John mended his licks
And faster his anger did grow;
Then with a scornful look he tumbled
Robin in the brook
About fifty feet below.
19. "Tell me, brave fellow, where are you now?"
Little John with laughter cried.
"I am under the bridge," said bold Robin Hood,
"And drifting around with the tide.
20. "I must acknowledge you are a strong brave man;
With you I would like to be friends."
Then to the bank of the brook Robin did wade
And with Little John Robin shook hands.
21. Then Robin Hood put his horn to his mouth
And with it he blew a loud blast;
Then came his bowmen in green, most brave to be seen,
And they said, "We heard you at last."
22. "What can we do, good master, for you?"
One of his bowmen cried.
'You are wet to the skin; where have you been?"
Then Robin Hood replied,
"This good man that you see has been fight with me,
And he tumbled me into the tide."
23. "He shall not go scot-free," the bowmen said.
"Do not touch him," Robin replied;
"For I do declare he is as stout as a bear
And we need such good men on our side.
24. "I am your true friend," said bold Robin Hood,
"So please don't be afraid;
You are a brave man as I understand
And I'm proud of the part you have played.
25. "These men are my bowmen that come at my call,
I have three score and nine;
And if you'll agree to stay here with me,
I will make you a bowman of mine.
26. "Now what do you say? You have nothing to fear,
I will teach you to hunt deer and bear;
I will always see, if you stay here with me,
You always will have equal share.
27. "I will give you my hand, you will be my top man,
And always my friend, I declare;
My offer is good," said bold Robin Hood,
"Now Little John, what do you say?"
"Since you put it that way, with you I will stay,
And we will live from the fat of the land.
28. "They call me Little John, but as you can see,
I am not little at all;
You will find lots of men much smaller than me-
You see, I am seven foot tall."
29. Then Robin and Little John walked hand in hand
And to Robin's wardrobe they did go;
Then Robin Hood dressed Little John in the best
From his head to the tip of his toe.
30. Then in his hand Robin Hood put a fine bow;
"As an archer you'll be one of the best;
We will take from the rich and give to the poor,
You'll never need for gold and silver any more.
31. "We will take gold from the priests and bishops and monks
While they slumber and snore;
As long as bishops and monks has gold in their trunks
And we are able to open the door.
We will live good ourselves with good food on our shelves,
And give lots to the needy and poor.
32. "We will live here and eat deer and bear meat
Like squires and lords of renown,
And as long as our life shall endure I am sure
With plenty we shall always be found."
33. With music and dancing they finished the day
And Little John uniting, did celebrate;
And Robin rejoiced at the top of his voice
Because he had found a true mate.
34. Little John and Robin Hood remained true friends
Until brave Robin Hood's death;
And on Little John's chest, as I have heard it said,
Is where bold Robin Hood drew his last breath.
35. And again I have heard that old folks of England said,
And after brave Robin was dead,
That Little John Garland helped place the stone
At bold Robin Hood's head.