Lord Bateman- Jackson (KY) 1935 recording Lomax
YOUNG BEICHAN (Child No. 53)
[B. b1 "Lord Bateman." Sung by Aunt Molly Jackson of Clay County, Kentucky at New York, N.Y. 1935. Recorded by Alan Lomax and Mary Elizabeth Barnicle.]
Notes by Bronson: This ballad, a counterpart with the roles reversed of the very early medieval romance of "Hind Horn," plays variations on a theme far-flung and favorite in the Middle Ages. Many heroes are said to have had comparable adventures in the East, and the legend has even been attached to the father of St. Thomas a Becket. The best forms of the ballad are eighteenth-century Scottish; but in the middle of the nineteenth century it was adopted into the repertory of the English music-hall as a comic Cockney song, where it had considerable vogue. Adorned with rough cuts by Cruikshank, it also circulated in print (1839). Hind Horn had a magic ring to tell him of danger, and in earlier form of Young Beichan, Bichan, Brechin, or Bekie, the Turkish Lady received supernatural warning of her lover's imminent defection; but in the nineteenth-century simple longing is sufficient motivation for her voyage, and luck guides her to the right destination. For the most part, the musical tradition so far as it is now known, is strong and relatively consistent, full of interest and grave charm.
1. (Lord) Bateman lived in old England bower
He had moneys of high degree
He could not rest nor be contented
Till he had taken a voyage across the sea.
2. He sailed east and he sailed the west long
He sailed and he came to the Turkish shore
And there the Turks put him in prison
His home he expected to see no more.
3. These Turks they had one lovely daughter
She thought herself of a high degree
Saying what would you give to a Turkish lady
From these iron bands to be set free.
4. Kind miss, I have fine houses in London
And I have money of a high degree.
I'll give my land and all my living
From these iron bands to be set free.
5. She stole the keys from her father's prison
And vowed Lord Bateman she would free
She took hia to her father's houses
And glasses of wine she drew him three.
6. She took him to her nicest parlor
Drew him a glass of the strongest wine
And now she vowed ana she vowed unto him
What would I give if you was mine.
7. If seven long years you'll make a vow, sir,
Let the date be thirty-three
If you'll marry no other woman
No other man can marry me.
8. For seveD long years they made a vow then
The date was thirty-three
She gathered up her gay fine clothing
And vowed Lord Bateaan she would see.
9. She sailed east and she sailed west then
She sailed till she caae to the Bateman shore
Then she rode up unto fine houses
Who lived there she did not know.
10. Is this Lord Bateman's castle?
Or is Lord Bateman not at home?
Yes, he's here and all his company
He has today his bride brought home.
11. Go tell hia to bring me a loaf of bread, sir
And draw ae a glass of the strongest wine
And ask him if he don't remember
Who freed him from his prison fine.
12. Lord Bateman rose from where he was sitting
His face was shining white like snow
Saying if I had my Turkish lady
With her dear love I'm bound to go.
13. If that is my Turkish lady
She's crossed the roaring sea for me
If it's her I must go with her
I can never stay with thee.
14. Oh ma'am, oh ma'am, I married your daughter
I'm sure she's none of the worse by me
I brought her on a horse and saddle
I'll send her back in coaches three.