Lord Bateman- Sturgill (KY) 1958 Abrahams
[From Anglo American Folksong Style- Abrahams and Foss, 1968.
Virgil Leon Sturgill was born April 1, 1897 in Kentucky and died August 31, 1981 in Asheville, Buncombe, North Carolina. He was married to Ruth N. Sturgill in 1911. Virgil was a ballad singer and dulcimer player and a friend of Cratis Williams, who worked with Abrams (not Abrahams the author) and Greer at Appalachain State in Boone, NC.
Two verses of his ballad can be heard at Digital Appalachia: Virgil Sturgill sings to a ballad singing class at Warren Wilson College, 1976. http://dla.acaweb.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/Warren/id/1656/rec/12
R. Matteson 2014]
Lord Bateman
1. Lord Bateman be was a noble lord,
And held himself in high degree,
He could not rest or be contented
'Til he had voyaged across the sea.
2. Now he sailed East and he sailed westward
Until he reached that Turkish[1] shore,
There he was taken and put in prison
To live in hopes of freedom no more.
3. This Turk he had an only daughter,
The fairest maiden you ever did see'
She stole the keys to her father's prison,
And said, "Lord Bateman, I'll set you free."
4. "Have you got houses, have you lands, sir,
And are you of some high degree?
What would you give to the Turkish lady
If out of prison she'd set you free?"
5. "Yes, I have houses, I have lands, love,
Half of Northumberland belongs to me,
I'd give it all to the Turkish lady,
If out of prison she'd set me free."
6. Then she took him to her father's cellar
And gave him a glass of the choicest wine,
Saying, "Every moment seems an hour,
I wish Lord Bateman that you were mine'"
7. "Let's make a vow, let's make a promise,
Let's make a vow, let's make it stand."
He vowed he'd marry no other woman;
She vowed she'd marry no other man.
8. Then she took him to her father's harbor,
And gave to him-a ship of fame.
Saying, "Farewell to you, my own Lord Bateman,
I fear I'll never see you again."
9. For seven long years she kept her vow, sir,
For seven long years seemed twenty-three,
Then she gathered all her gay, fine clothing,
And said, "Lord Bateman I'll go see."
10. Then she sailed East and she sailed westward,
Until she reached that English shore.
And when she reached Lord Bateman's castle
She lighted down before the door.
11. "Is this Lord Bateman's gay, fine castle,
And is his lordship here within?"
"Oh yes, oh yes," cried the gay young porter,
"He's just now taken his young bride in."
12. "Bid him remember a slice of cake, sir,
Bid him remember a glass of wine.
Bid him remember the Turkish lady,
Who did release him when confined."
13. Off then went that proud young porter,
Fast up the flight of stairs went he.
And when he come to Lord Bateman's chamber
He then went down on bended knee.
14. "What news, what news, my proud young porter?
What news, what news, have you brought to me?"
"Oh, there's the fairest of all young ladles
That my two eyes, sir, ever did see."
15. "She has got rings on every finger.
On one finger she has three,"
With enough gay gold about her middle
As would buy Northumberland of thee."
16. Lord Bateman rose from where he was sitting,
His face it was as white as snow.
Saying, "If she is the Turkish lady
With her, my love, I bound for to go."
17. Up then spoke the young bride's mother,
"She's none the better nor worse for thee.
You brought her here on a horse and saddle,
You may return in chariots three."
18. "You brought her here on a horse and saddle,
You may return in chariots three.
And I will marry the Turkish lady,
Who crossed the roaring seas for me."
1. sounds more like Turkey than Turkish