Lord Banner- Whitmore (ME) pre1929 Barry G a
[From Barry Eckstorm, Smythe; British Ballads from Maine, 1929. Extensive notes which I assume are mainly from Barry may be found US and Canada versions page. Cf. Barry version G b "Red Rover".
R. Matteson 2015]
LITTLE MUSGRAVE AND LADY BARNARD
(Child 81)
Ga."Lord Banner." From Mr. James F. Whitmore, southwest Harbor, by the courtesy of Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, southwest Harbor. Mr. Whitmore, "heard it sung when he was a small child," and Mrs. Sarah (Robinson) Black of southwest Harbor, who gives the air, says that he learned it of her mother, Mrs. Abby Kelley. "The first verse says that somebody came to Lord Banner's camp and told him that Red Rover of old Scotland. was calling on his lady. Lord Banner said":
1. "If this is a lie that You tell me,
As I believe it to be,
A stage and gallows I buildeth
And hang-ed You shall be."
2. "If this is a lie that I tell to you,
As you believe it to be,
No stage or gallows build you,
But hang me to a tree."
3. Lord Banner he ran till he came to the sea
Then he took to his breast and swam,
And when he reached the other shore
Then he took to his feet and ran.
4. . . .
. . . .
When the sun arose next morning,
Lord Banner he stood at their feet.
["I said to the Red Rover',:]
5. "Arise, arise, put on your sword
As quick as ever you can,
For it shall not be said in old Scotland
That I fought with an unarmed man."
6. "Arise, arise, I dare not do,
I dare not for my life,
For by your side are two broadswords
And I not a single knife."
7. "If by my side are two broadswords,
They cost full deep in purse,
And you can choose the o."y best,
While I will take the worse.
8. "And you shall strike the very first blow
And strike it like a man,
While f will strike the second blow
And kill you, if I can."
9. Red Rover struck the very first blow
And wounded Lord Banner full sore,
Lord Banner he struck the second blow
And laid him in his gore.
10. Then he took his fair lady round the waist
And gave her kisses three,
Saying, "Which of the two do you like the best.
Young Red Rover or me?"
11. "Very well do I like your rosy lips,
Very well do I like your chin,
But better far is young Red Rover
Than you or any of your kin."
12. Then he took his fair lady by the hair
And split her head in two,
And placed his sword upon the ground
And ran his own self through,
13. Saying, "Go dig my grave, go dig my grave,
Go dig it wide and deep,
By my side place my young wife,
With Red Rover at my feet."