Little Moth Grone- Gilkie (NS) 1950 Creighton B
[Bronson's title. From: Traditional Songs from Nova Scotia by Creighton and Senior, 1950, p.47.
R. Matteson 2015]
"Little Moth Grone" - Sung by William Gilkie, Sambro, N.S. before 1950. Tune noted by Margaret Sargent.
m I (inflected III and VII)
1. It was a fine day and a holy day,
The very best day in the year,
When Little Moth Grone went to church
Some holy words to hear,
Some holy words to hear.
2. The first come down was dressed in silk,
The next come down in satin,
The next come down was Lord Daniel's wife
And her skin was as white as milk,
Her skin was as white as milk.
3. She looked all around with a velvish eye
And Little Moth Grone she did spy,
Saying, "Little Moth Grone this very night
In bed with me you must lie,
In bed with me you must lie."
4. "I couldn't nor I wouldn't nor I dare not do,
I couldn't for the Power of my life,
By the looks of those rings upon your fingers
I think you're Lord Daniel's wife,
girl I think you're Lord Daniel's wife."
5. "Oh what if I am Lord Daniel's wife,
Oh what is that to thee?
Lord Daniel's gone to Newcastle
King Henery for to see,
King Henery for to see."
6. A little foot page was standing by
Listening to all that was said,
A little foot page was standing by
And he took to his heels and he run,
And he took to his heels and he run.
7. He ran till he came to the other side,
He laid on his breast and he swum,
He swum till he came to the other side
And he took to his legs and run,
And he took to his legs and run.
8. He run till he came to Lord Daniel's castle,
He twirled at the pin,
"What news, what news my little foot page,
What news have you brought to me,
What news have you brought to me?"
g. "Have any of my taverns wore,
Or any of my bridges broke down,
Has my fair lady brought to me
A daughter or a son,
A daughter or a son?"
10. "There are none of your bridges broke down
Nor none of your taverns wore,
But your fair lady she's in bed,
She's in bed with Little Moth Grone,
She's in bed with Little Moth Grone."
11. Lord Daniel he called all his men in a line
And stood them all in a row,
He ordered not a word to be spoken
Or a bugle not to blow,
Or a bugle not to blow.
12. Lord Daniel put his horn unto his mouth
And he blowed it loud and shrill,
Whoever's in bed with another man's wife
It's high time to be jogging away.
13. "Oh hark, oh hark, I hear footsteps
A-dancing near and near."
"Lay still, lay still my Little Moth Grone
And keep my back from the cold,
And keep my back from the cold."
14. "Oh hark, oh hark, I hear it again,
It's drawing nearer and nearer."
"It's only my father's blind shepherd boy
A-driving his sheep to the fold,
A-driving his sheep to the fold."
15. "Oh how do you like my good bed sir,
Or how do you like my sheets,
Or how do you like my good lady
That lays in Your arms asleep?
That lays in Your arms asleep?"
16. "Not much I like your good bed sir,
Not much I like Your sheets,
But better I like Your fair lady
That lays in my arms asleep,--
That lays in my arms asleep."
17. Lord Daniel he sent and he brought two swords
Which cost him many's the Pearl,[1]
Little Moth Gove the pick of them
And he did take the worst,
And he did take the worst.
18. The very first stroke that Little Moth Grone made
He wounded Lord Daniel full sore,
And the very next stroke Lord Daniel made
Little Moth Grone never rose no more,
Little Moth Grone never rose no more.
19. He says, "I've killed the finest lord
That ever England bore,
Likewise I've killed the finest lady
That ever the sun shone on,
That ever the sun shone on."
1. cost him many in purse,