Old Bangum- Furgeson (Vermont) 1942 Flanders
[From "Ancient Ballads Traditionally Sung in New England" by Helen H Flanders (1960). Also found in Ballads Migrant in New England. Collected by M. Olney in 1942, sung by Dr. Alfred Furgeson of Middlebury, Vermont. This version was learned from his mother whose ancestors came from Massachusetts. This version is similar to the Lomax version 1939.
R. Matteson 2014]
OLD BANGUM- Dr. Alfred Furgeson of Middlebury, Vermont
Old Bangum would a-hunting ride,
Derrum, derrum, derrum.
Old Bangum would a-hunting ride,
Kili-ko--
Old Bangum would a-hunting ride,
With sword and pistol at his side,
Derrum-kili-ko-ko.
(use above pattern for following stanzas)
He rode unto the riverside,
Where he a pretty maid espied.
"Fair maid," said he, "will you marry me?"
"Ah no," said she, "for we'd ne'er agree."
"There lives a bear[1] in yonder wood,
He'd eat your bones, he'd drink your blood.
Brave Bangum rode to the wild bear's den
Where lay the bones of a thousand men.
Brave Bangum and the wild bear fought;
At set of sun the bear was naught.
He rode again to the riverside
To ask that maid to be his bride.
1. replacing boar