Robin Hood and the Old Maid- Mulleneoux (KY) 1909 Niles A
[From The Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles, 1961 (Niles No. 47 A). This is clearly a ballad recreation by Niles.
R. Matteson 2015]
Robin Hood and the Old Maid - Sung by Pete Mulleneoux Jefferson County, Ky., 1909.
1. "What news, what news, my silly old maid,
What news have you for me?"
"I know three gay and merry men
In Northbeetown will die,
I know three gay and merry men
In Northbeetown will die."
2. "Oh, did they burn or did they steal,
Or were twelve preachers slain?
Or have they rap-ed virgin girls
Or with some pretty wives lain?"
(repeat last 2 lines of each verse)
3. Now Robin Hood's gone to Northbeetown,
With a down-down-down and a derry-down-dey,
And there he met a preacher-man
As he walked the King's highway.
4. "Come change, come change, come change with me,
Come change your clothes for mine,
And I will give you market gold*
To eat on meat and wine."
5. Now Robin went up to the sheriff,
Said, "Pray do hear of me.
What will you pay a poor old man
Who will your hangman be?"
6. "I always pay my hangman well,
And you shall be paid more -
A suit with no cloth patches
Because you are so poor."
7, Now Robin blew a mighty blast,
He blew one, two, and three,
And see his men spring quickly out
And shout most merrily.
8. The door is down, the prisoners out,
The gallows is on the hill.
And there they hanged the sheriff,
And he must be hanging still.