Our Goodman (Our Guidman) - McKeen (NS) pre1950 Creighton
[This is one of the rare US /Canadian versions that can be titled "Our Goodman" although it should be as the text- Our Guidman. McKeen is obviously of Scottish decent. This version is very similar to Davis's Appendix (Virginia), a song that came from an officer of the British Navy through Canada (See: A Jacobite Song). Here's the ending:
10. Hame cam oor gudeman at e'en,
and hame cam he,
And there he saw a sturdy man
where na man shud be.
"And how's this now, gude wife,
and how cam this ta be?
And how cam this man here
wi oot the leave o' me!"
11. "Oh! woe's me! an woe's me!
It's but ma cousin Mackintosh
from the North Countree."
"We'd be all hanged and quartered, Kate,
wi oot the leave o' me."
Both are clearly decended from the version in Smith's Scottish Minstrel IV p. 66. I'll poste below.
R. Matteson 2013]
Notes By Creighton: Our Goodman (Child 274)
This ballad enjoys great popularity in English-speaking countries and is also found in Germany, Hungary, Scandinavia, etc. the Nova Scotian variant is like Child, A, except for the ending where, instead of being told a milking-maid is there, the husband learns he is harbouring a rebel. [See also Davis Appendix- A Jacobite Song] Child says that in Smith's Scottish, Minstrel, IV, 66, the piece is turned into a Jacobite ballad and the goodwife says she is hiding her cousin, Machintosh. Roberts says: "We are indebted to Herd for the preservation of this racy aud humorous ballad."
Our Goodman (Noted by H.C.) - Sung by Mrs. E. H. McKeen, Sherbrooke.
1. Oh hame came our guidman at e'en and hame came he,
And there he saw saddled horse where no horse should be,
"Oh what's this now guid wife, and what's this I see,
Oh now came this horse here without the leave of me?"
2. "Ye auld blind doited body, blind or what ye be,
It's but a bonny milk coo my mither sent to me,"
"A-far hae I ridden and muckle hae I seen,
But a saddie on a milk coo saw I never nane. "
3. Oh hame came our guidman at e'en and hame came he,
And there he saw a pair of boots where nae boots should be,
"Oh what's this now guidwife, what's this I see,
Oh how came these boots here without the leave of me?"
4. "Ye auld blind doited body, blind or what ye be,
It's but a pair o' water-stoups my mither sent to me."
"A-far hae I ridden and muckle hae I seen,
But siller spurs on water-stoups saw I never nane."
5. Oh hame came our guidman at e'en and hame came he
And there he saw a siller sword where nae sword should be,
"Oh what's this now guidwife, what's this I see,
Oh how came this sword here without the leave of me?"
6. "Ye auld blind doited body, blind or what ye be,"
It's but a bonny parritch [1] stick mither sent to me,"
"A-far hae I ridden and muckle hae I-seen,
But a tassel on a parritch stick saw I never nane."
7. Oh ben the hoose gaed our guidman and ben gaed he,
And there he saw a sturdy man where nae man should be,
"Oh what's this now guidwife, what's this I see,
Oh how came this man here without the leave of me?"
8. "Oh huly huly our guidman and dinna angry be,
It's but our cousin Macintosh frae the north countree,"
"We'll all be hanged and quartered, Kate, and that you'll soon see,
There's a Hieland rebel in the hoose without the leave o' me."
1. porridge stick
----------------------
HAME CAM OUR GUDEMAN AT E'EN- Smith: The Scottish Minstrel, vol. 4, 1823
Hame cam oure gudeman at e'en,
And hame cam he,
And there he saw a saddle horse,
Where horse sud na be.
Oh! how's this and what's this?
And wha's may he be?
How cam this horse here
Without the leave o' me?
Recit: Ye silly, blind, doited carl,
In time: And blinder may ye be;
It's but a bonnie milk-cow
My minny sent to me.
Recit: Milk cow! quo' he; Ay milk cow, quo' she;
In time: O far hae I ridden, and mickle hae I gaen,
Recit: But a saddle on a milk-cow
In time: Saw I never nane.
Hame cam oure gudeman at e'en,
And hame cam he,
And there he saw a siller gun,
Whar nae sic gun sud be.
How's this? and what's this?
And how cam this to be?
How cam this gun here
Without the leave o' me?
Ye stupid auld doited carl,
Ye're unco blind I see ;
It's but a bonnie parritch-stick
My Minnie sent to me.
Parritch-stick! quo'he; ay parritch-stick,quo' she;
Far hae I ridden, and mickle hae I seen,
But siller munted parritch-sticks
Saw I never nane.
Hame cam oure gudeman at e'en,
And hame cam he,
And there he saw a feather-cap,
Whar nae cap sud be.
How's this? and what's this?
And how cam this to be?
How cam this bannet here
Without the leave o' me?
Ye're a silly auld donard bodie,
And unco blind I see;
It's but a tappit clocken hen
My minnie sent to me.
A clocken hen! quo'he; a clocken hen, quo' she;
Far hae I ridden, and farer hae I gaen,
But white cockauds on clocken hens
Saw I never nane.
Ben the house gaed the gudeman,
And ben gaed he,
And there he spied a Hieland plaid,
Whar nae plaid sud be.
How's this? and what's this?
And how cam this to be?
How cam the plaid here
Without the leave o' me ?
Oh hooly, hooly, my gudeman,
And dinna angered be ;
It cam wi' cousin McIntosh
Frae the north countrie.
Your Cousin! quo he, aye cousin, quo she;
Blind as ye may jibe me, I've sight enough to see,
Ye're hidin tories in the house
Without the leave o' me.