Selling the Cow- Bertrand (KY) 1953 Roberts
[From: In the Pines, Roberts 1978. Roberts version did not appear in Bronson being published in 1978. Similar opening verse to Henry's versions from TN and NC. Here are the notes:
R. Matteson 2014]
33. SELLING THE COW (Child 263)
Child had seven variants of this ballad, all broadsides and all from England. He describes it as "a specimen of its class." In it a farmer goes to pay his rent, is neld up by a highwayman, but he throws his saddle over the hedge and escapes with the thief's horse and 600 pounds of gold and silver. Child summarizes other versions involving a girl going to sell corn, and a boy going to sell a cow (The Yorkshire Bite). Since Child designates these in the class of the "Crafty Farmer," some collectors include them as versions, others as related to or as secondary to no. 283. "The crafty Farmer" has been found only twice in Britain sinceĀ Child's time (in Scotland and in Devonshire: see NCF, II, 189); but "The Yorkshire Bite" has been found in Norfolk, Berkshire, and in Somerset (NCF, ibid.).
The ballad featuring the farmer has been found only in a single text in America (FSS, no. 31). The popular 'Yorkshire Bite" has about fifteen references in Coffin. It has been collected in Newfoundland and in Nova Scotia. Three texts were recovered in Maine (BBM, pp. 406-413), and one in Vermont (a note in NGMS, p. 99, defends this 1769 version as older than Child's no. 283 of 1796). Three have been collected in North Carolina (NCF, II, IV, no. 20 and FSS, no. 30); West Virginia (FSMEU, pp. r49-r52): Tennessee (FSSH); Michigan (BSSM, no. r57, one printed of three;; Illinois (ASB, pp. 118-119); and Oklahoma.
This is the only text I am aware of from Kentucky. Most of the texts have refrains; the present one has a nonsense line very close to the NCF, B; "Like others, others to round tinty oh." It was sung for me in 1953 by Louise Bertrand, age about 65, from Pike county. she had learned it and a dozen such songs from her mother and from neighbors in her youth.
SCALE: Pentatonic (egabd). MODE: ItrlPlagal. RANGE: b-e,' (PERFECt 11th). TONIC- CENTER: E; PHRASE STRUCTURE: A B C D
E Y (2,2,2,2,2,2) unusual structure, Possibly: A B C (4'4'4)' MELODIC RELATIONSHIP: There are no tonal resemblances found in the numerous variants of Child No. 283 examined" Note (again) the use of the fermata at the cadences, for the purpose of either breath or memory.
1. "Come along down," said the farmer to his son,
"[To] make some money," and his name was John.
"Take that calf and drive her to the fair,
She's in good order and her I can spare."
"Lie tother, rather, ruther ruther turn-a-ran-tannie-O.
2. He took that cow and he drove her in the ring,
He didn't go far till he met with a man,
He sold that cow for six times ten-
Lie tother, rather, ruther ruther turn-a-ran-tannie-O.
3. I'll fasten that money in my coatline, says he,
Fear on the highway robbed on I'd be,
Fine landlady all dressed so fine,
Sewed that money in his coatline.
Lie tother, rather, ruther ruther turn-a-ran-tannie-O.
4. The boy took a fright and he hurried right on,
The highwayman mounted and he soon followed on,
"Very well overtaken, very well," said he,
"Very well overtaken on the main highway."
Lie tother, rather, ruther ruther turn-a-ran-tannie-O.
5. They didn't go far until they struck a dark lane,
He said, "Young lad, I'll tell you in plain,
Your money I'll have without any strife,
If you don't give it up, I'll end your sweet life."
Lie tother, rather ruther ruther tum-a-ran-tannie-o.
6. The boy jumped off and he quickly tore it out,
In a high patch of weeds he strowed it ail about,
The robber jumped off and was picking up the strowed,
The boy jumped on his horse and off he rode.
Lie tother, rather ruther ruther tum-a-ran-tannie-o.
7. Didn't go far until he come to a door,
Out come the old man kerthump on the floor,
"What luck, what luck, sir," he cried with a curse,
"Our old cow has turned into a horse."
Lie tother, rather ruther ruther tum-a-ran-tannie-o.
8. Took off his saddlepockers and begin to unfold,
Found three thousand dollars in silver and gold,
Two cases of pistols all loaded around,
"Don't you think, old man, I've well sold your cow---?
Lie tother, rather ruther ruther tum-a-ran-tannie-o.