[Lord Baker]- Jones (KY) 1917 Sharp I
[My title, replacing Young Beichan. Sharp/Karpeles published a one stanza fragment (stanza 2) with music in English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, 1932; Sharp and Karpeles, Vol. I.
Bronson 42 has 10 stanzas from Sharp's MS.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
I. [Lord Baker] Sung by Mrs. Cis JONES at Goose Creek, Manchester, Clay Co., Ky., Aug. 16, 1917; Sharp MSS., 3860/2823-24 additional stanzas.
Pentatonic. Mode 1.
1. There was a young man in old England dwelling,
He was tossed East, he was tossed West,
He was tossed on some Turkey shore.
He was imprisoned by the Turks
Where he could neither stand nor walk.
2. The Turks they had a lovely daughter,
A very handsome girl in deed,
She says: Young man, have you gold and silver,
Or riches in a high degree?
3. He says: Kind Madam, I've gold and silver
And riches to a high degree.
I'll give them all to the lady fairest,
Who out of prison will set me free.
4. She stole the keys of her father's dwelling
And freed him from his iron bands.
She took him by the lily-white hand,
Two or three rooms into she led him.
And of the wine so strong she gave him.
Every health she drunk unto him,
And wished Lord Baker might be her own.
5. There was seventeen long years had come and gone,
And eighteen had entered in.
She dressed herself in men's clothing,
And said young Baker she would go see.
6. she rode and she rode till she came to Baker's castle,
And there she tingled at the ring.
She says: Is this Lord Baker's castle,
Or is it the lord himself within?
7. He jumped up and from his table,
He bursted it into splinters three.
I'll forsake my land and living,
If Miss Susannah ain't crossed the sea.[1]
8. He took her by the lily-white hand,
Two or three rooms into he led her,
And of the wine so strong he gave her
And says: Susannah shall be mine.
9. She says: Is this Lord Baker's bride
That he's just this day brought in?
He says: O lady, you can take your daughter;
She ain't none the worse by me.
She come here on horse and saddle,
I'll send her home in coaches three.
10. How he soon thought on his Susannah Fair,[2]
Who freed him from his iron bands,
He took her by her lily-white hand,
And soon altered her name from Susannah Fair,
And called her young Baker's landlady.
1. it should mean: "if Susannah has crossed"
2. Susannah fair, not capitalized