Lord Bateman- Evans (Mo.) 1927 Randolph A
[From Randolph; Ozark Folksongs, Vol. 1, 1946; British Ballads and Songs.
R. Matteson 2014]
A. Lord Bateman. Sung by Mrs. Lenore Evans, Jane, Mo., Sept. 5, 1927.
1. Lord Bateman was a noble lord,
A noble lord of high degree,
He shipped himself on board a ship,
Some foreign country for to see.
He sail-ed East, he sail-ed West
Till he come into Turkey,
An' there he was taken an' put into prison,
Until his life was quite weary.
In this here prison there grew a tree,
It grew so very stout an' strong,
An' he was chain-ed by the middle
Until his life was almost gone.
The Turk he only had one daughter,
The fairest creature eye ever did see,
She stole the key of his father's prison,
She says I'll set Lord Bateman free.
Have you got houses, have you got lands?
An' does Northumberland belong to thee?
An' what would you give to the fair young lady
Who out of prison would set you free?
Oh, I've got houses an' I've got lands,
An' half of Northumberland belongs to me,
An' I'd give it all to the fair young lady,
That out of prison would set me free.
Then she took him to her father's
An' give to him the best of wine,
An' every health she drunk to him was:
Lord Bateman, I wish that you were mine.
For seven long years I'll make a vow,
And seven long years I'll keep it strong,
If you will not wed no other woman,
I will not wed no other man.
Then she took him down to her father's harbor,
An' give to him a ship of fame,
Farewell, farewell to you, Lord Bateman,
I fear I never shall see You again.
When seven long years was gone an' past,
An' fourteen days, well known to me,
She picked up her gay gold an' clothings,
An' says Lord Bateman she would see.
When she come to Lord Bateman's castle,
So boldly there she rang the bell,
Who's there? Who's there? cried the young proud porter,
Who's there, who's there, unto me tell!
Oh is this here Lord Bateman's castle?
An' is his lordship here within?
Oh, yes, oh yes, cried the young proud porter,
He's just now taken his young bride in.
Tell him to send me a slice of cake,
An' a bottle of the best of wine,
An' not to forget the fair young lady-
That did release him when close confined.
Away, away went the young proud porter,
Away, away went he
Until he come unto Lord Bateman
When on his bended knees fell he.
What news, what news, my young proud porter,
What news, what news have you brought unto me?
Oh, there is the fairest of fair young ladies
That ever my two eyes did see!
She has got rings on every finger,
An' on one of 'em she has got three;
She's got as much gold round her middle
As would buy Northumberland of thee!
She tells you to send her a slice of cake,
An' a bottle of the best of wine,
Arr' tot to forget the fair young lady-
That did release you when close confined.
Lord Bateman in a passion flew,
He broke his sword in splinters three,
I'll give all my father's wealth and riches
Now, if Sophia has crossed the sea!
Then up spoke his young bride's mother,
Who never was heard to speak so free,
Don't you forget my only daughter,
Even if Sophia has crossed the sea.
I own I've made a bride of your daughter,
But she's none the better nor worse for me,
She come to me on a horse an' saddle,
An' she can go back in a carriage an' three.
Then another marriage was prepared,
With both their hearts so full of glee,
I'll range no more to foreign countries
Since my Sophia has crossed the sea.