Robin and John- Sizemore (KY) 1932 Niles
[From The Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles, 1961. This is likely a ballad recreation by Niles.
R. Matteson 2015]
Robin and John- Sung by Gilly Sizemore; Hazard Ky. 1932.
1. When Robin Hood was twenty-one,
With a low down down by the river down,
When Robin Hood was twenty-one,
He then did meet with Little John,
Who lived afar in Northerntown,
With a down by the river down.
2. They met upon a narrow bridge,
With a low down down by the river down,
They met upon a narrow bridge,
And neither then would give away,
until they had some Northern play,
With a down by the river down.
3. Brave John put on the all-of-green, [sim]
Brave John put on the all-of-green.
He then did join the merry men
And lived with them in the greenwood glen.
4. So thick, so fast they laid it on,
So thick, so fast they laid it on,
They flourished staffs and sticks of oak,
And heads they bashed and bones they broke.
5. Now John struck Robin such a blow,
Now John struck Robin such a blow,
He topped poor Robin into the tide below,
With a low down down by the river down.
6. "How now, how now?', John Little cried,
"How now, how now?" John Little cried.
"The water in his tide is cold,
You've won, you've won, my warrior bold."