Bluegrass Messengers

Sheet Music: Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight

Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight Music

CONTENTS:

Version from Traditional Ballads in New England I by Phillips Barry
Brown Collection of NC Folklore
Bronson 115 Texts (145 total texts)

ATTACHMENTS: (see left hand column)

Outlandish Knight (Ten Versions with Music) 1910

[Max Hunter
Little Billy As sung by Odis Bird in Marshall, Arkansas on August 6, 1958
Lovin' Polly As sung by Mrs. Allie Long Parker in Eureka Springs, AR on March 27, 1958
Willie Came Over The Main Wide Ocean As sung by Mr. Fred High in High, Arkansas on February 11, 1959
Pretty Polly As sung by Donia Cooper in West Fork, Arkansas on August 19,1959]

Brown Collection of NC Folklore
Bronson 115 Texts (145 total texts)
------------------------------------------
Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight; L. W. H., Cambridge, Mass; pre 1905

[Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight is taken from Barry's Traditional Ballads in New England I, published in JOAFL 1905. ]

Traditional Ballads in New England I
by Phillips Barry
The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 18, No. 69 (Apr. - Jun., 1905), pp. 123-138

IV. LADY ISABEL AND THE ELF-KNIGHT

A. Contributed by L. W. H., Cambridge, Mass., in whose family it has been traditional for three generations.

1. Pretty Polly, she mounted her milk-white steed,
And he the ambling gray,
And they came to the broad water side,
Full an hour before it was day, day, day,
Full an hour before it was day.

2. "Now light you down, Pretty Polly," he said,
"Now light you down," said he,
"For six Pretty Pollies have I drownded here,
And the seventh you shall be."

3. "Take off your clothes, so costly, so fine,
And eke your velvet shoon,
For I do think your clothing is too good,
For to lie in a watery tomb."

4. "Won't you stoop down to pick that brier,
That grows so near the brim?
For I am afraid it will tangle my hair,
And rumple my lily-white skin."

5. So he stooped down to pick that brier,
That grew so near the brim,
And with all the might that the Pretty Polly had,
She did tumble the false knight in.

6. "Lie there, lie there false knight," she said,
"Lie there all in my room,
For I do not think your clothing is too good,
For to lie in a watery tomb!"

7. Pretty Polly, she mounted her milk-white steed,
And led the ambling gray,
And she came to her father's stable door,
Full an hour before it was day.

8. Then up and spoke her pretty parrot,
And unto her did say,
"Oh, where have you been, my Pretty Polly,
So long before it was day?"

9. "Oh, hold your tongue, you prattling bird,
And tell no tales of me,
And you shall have a cage of the finest beaten gold,
That shall hang on the front willow-tree!"

10 Then up and spoke her father dear,
And unto the bird did say,
"Oh, what makes you talk, my pretty parrot,
So long before it is day?"

11. "The old cat came to my cage door,
And fain would have eaten me,
And I was a-calling to Pretty Polly,
To drive the old cat away."

-----------------------------------------------

Brown Collection of NC Folklore
Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight (Child 4) Music

A. 'Pretty Polly.' Sung by Mrs. Myra Barnett Miller, Lenoir, Caldwell county. Recorded at Lenoir, August 1936. There is another, very similar recording by the same singer (record XXXA2-4), with the additional titles 'The Seventh King's Daughters' and 'The Seven Sisters.' The variations are those of this second recording, also in score No. 140.

For melodic relationship, cf. ***SharpK i, No. 3 A, D, G; **OFS i, No.
2A; *BBM 24, F; ASb 60-61 ; PSL 30; TBV 549-50; and FSS No. iB.

Scale: Mode III, plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: aa1a2bb1 (2,2,2,2,2) =
aa1b (4,2,4). Circular Tune (V).

B. 'The Seven Sisters.' Sung by Mrs. Rebecca (Aunt Becky) Gordon. Recorded at Tuxedo, Henderson county, July 19, 1939. In another recording (VIAI-3) the same singer uses this tune with but slight changes for her version of 'The House Carpenter' (No. 40; II, 171).

For melodic relationship, cf. *TNFS 43 measures 5-6.

Scale: Heptachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: abca1d (2,2,2,2,2)
= ab (4,6); b is terminally incremented.

C. 'The Seventh King's Daughters.' Sung by Mrs. James York. Recorded by Dr. W. A. Abrams at Olin, Iredell county, 1940, from original at Boone, August 8, 1940. This tune very closely resembles Mrs. Myra Barnett Miller's tune for 'Pretty Polly' (2A) and has the same approach to the final.

For melodic relationship, cf. ***SharpK i 5-12, No. 3 A, B, D, E, G;

FSS 521, No. iB; **FSF 268, No. 157B ; OFS i 67, No. 6A ('Edward'); *OFS I 41, No. 2A; SCSM 400, A, first four measures; OFS i 48, No. 3, the first eight measures there are like the first four in our version; PSL 30, measures 3-4; TBV 550, No. 3D; FSOA 54.

Scale: Mode III, plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: aa1acc1 (2,2,2,2,2) = aai (4,6) ; a1 is terminally incremented. Circular Tune (V).

D. 'Pretty Cold Rain.' Sung by Miss Hattie McNeill. Recorded at Ferguson, Wilkes county, 1921 or 1922. Originally there was no text given in the MS score No. 141. The text from Miss Edith Walker, Boone, fits the tune perfectly, however. The score also gives the title as 'Six Fair Maids.' Melodically quite closely related to 'Pretty Polly,' 2A. Same approach to final as 'Pretty Polly,' 2A and 'The Seventh King's Daughters,' 2C.

For melodic relationship, cf. ***SharpK i, 5, 8, 9, No. 3 A, D, (E) ; PSL 30; FSS 521, No. iB; **OFS 141, No. 2, first four measures and ending; FSF 268, No. 157B; *FSoA 54.

Scale: Mixolydian. Tonal Center: d. Structure: aa^a^aS (2,2,2,2) = aa^ (4,4).

D(I) 'My Pretty Cold Rain.' Sung by Mrs. Nora Hicks. Recorded at Sugar Grove, Watauga county, August 28, 1940. Mrs. Hicks learned it from her grandmother, Mrs. Fannie Hicks. Same approach to final as 'Pretty Polly,' 2A, 'The Seventh King's Daughters,' 2C, and 'Pretty Cold Rain,' 2D.

For melodic relationship cf. *BSO 6, No. 2A, first two measures.

Scale: Mode III, plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: aa1 (4.4)- Circular Tune (V).

G. 'Seventh King's Daughter.' Sung by Mrs. J. Church. Recorded at Heaton, Avery county, July 30, 1939. There is no recording of Pat Frye's singing as mentioned in H, 25 ; only the text was taken down. Same approach to final as 'Pretty Polly,' 2A, 'The Seventh King's Daughters,' 2C, 'Pretty Cold Rain,' 2D and 'My Pretty Cold Rain,' 2D(i).

For melodic relationship cf. ***SharpK i, No. 3A; **FSS 521, No. 1B;
and PSL 30; *FSF 268, beginning and ending; TBV 550, No. 3D, last four measures.

Scale: Hexachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: aa1acc1 (2,2,2,2,2)
= aa1 (4,6) ; a1 is terminally incremented. Circular Tune (V).

-------------------------------------

Bronson: Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight (incomplete- there are atotal of 145 texts)
Child 4

X:1
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isobel and the Elf Knight
B:Bronson
O:Baring-Gould MSS., CXIV(1); text, (A). Also with
O:harmonisation in Baring-Gould and Sharp, "English Folk Songs
O:for Schools, n.d. p.26 (in Ab major). Sung by James Parsons,
O:Lew Down, 1888. Collected by S. Baring-Gould.
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:G
D | G2 FE D2 EF | G2 D2 B,3 G | G2 FE D2 EF |
w:An out-land-ish knight from the north-ern land, He said he* would mar-ry
G6 z A | B2 AG A2 c2 | B2 G2 D3 A |
w: me. He said he would take me to the far far
B2 AG A2 BA | G6 z d | d2 cB A2 Bc |
w:land And there would wed with me. O fetch me* some of your
d2 G2 d3 d | d2 cB A2 GA | B6 z d |
w:fa-ther's gold, and some of your moth-ers* fee And
G2 FE D2 EF | G2 D2 B,3 G | G2 FE D2 EF | G6 z |]
w:two of the best of your fath-er's nags That stand by* thir-ty and three.
W:
W:An outlandish knight from the northern land
W:He said he would marry me
W:He said he would take me to the far, far land
W:And there he would wed with me
W:
W:O fetch me some of your father's gold
W:And some of your mother's fee
W:And two of the best of your father's nags
W:That stand by thirty & three
W:
W:Then up & she mounts on her milk white steed
W:And he on his dapple grey
W:They rode till they came to the sea, sea side
W:Three hours before the day
W:
W:Light off, light off thy milk white steed
W:And deliver it unto me
W:For six pretty maids I have drowned here
W:And the seventh thou shalt be
W:
W:Pull off, pull off thy silken gown
W:And deliver it unto me
W:For I reckon it be too fine & gay
W:To rot in the salt, salt sea
W:
W:Pull off, pull off thy silken stays
W:And deliver it unto me
W:For I reckon it be too fine & gay
W:To rot in the salt, salt sea
W:
W:Pull off, pull off thy holland smock
W:And deliver them unto me
W:For I reckon they be too fine & gay
W:To rot in the salt, salt sea
W:
W:If I must pull off my holland smock
W:Pray turn your back on me
W:For it is not fit for a lady like me
W:A naked woman to be
W:
W:If I must pull off my holland smock
W:Pray turn your back on me
W:For it is not fit an outlandish thief
W:A naked me should see
W:
W:O then he turned his back on her
W:And looked upon green tree
W:That she might pull off her holland smock
W:And that her he might not see
W:
W:As he turned his back on the fair lady
W:A viewing the leaves so green
W:Then she caught him about his middle small
W:And thrust him into the stream
W:
W:He dropped high, he dropped low
W:Until he came to the side
W:Catch hold of my hand, my lady dear
W:I'll make thee my lawful bride
W:
W:Lie there, lie there thou false hearted man
W:Lie there instead of me
W:Six pretty maids hast thou drowned here
W:And the seventh hath drowned thee
W:
W:Then up she mounted her milk white steed
W:And she led the dapple grey
W:She rode till she came to her father's house
W:Two hours before the day
W:
W:The parrot was up in the window high
W:And laughed so shrill & did say
W:I'm afraid some ruffian here has been
W:And led my sweet lady away
W:
W:Don't prittle and prattle my pretty parrot
W:Nor tell any tales of me
W:Your cage shall be made of the glittering gold
W:Although it was made of a tree
W:Your cage shall be made of the glittering gold
W:And the door of ivory.

X:2
T:The Seven King's Daughters
T:Lady Isobel and the Elf Knight
B:Bronson
O:Arthur Kyle Davis jr. "Traditional Ballads of Virginia",
O:1929, pp. 551(Q) and 84 (Maxie).
O:Sung by Mrs Dan Maxie (neé Holland), Altavista, Va., March
O:23, 1914; Learned from her mother. Collected by Juliet Fauntleroy.
N:I can't align the words. S in the abc represents end-of phrase.
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
D2 | G2 D2 G2 A2 | B2 B2 AG E SD |
G4 A4 | G6 SB2 | d2 B2 d2 e2 |
B2 B2 AG SED | G2 G2 A2 BA | G6 z2 |]
W:
W:She picked him up so shyly,
W:She hauled him in the sea.
W:Lie there, lie there you false-eyed vilyun
W:Instead of me.
W:Six of the king's daughters you've drownded,
W:And the seventh one you shall be.

X:4
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isobel and the Elf Knight
B:Bronson
O:"The Outlandish Knight" Sharp MSS., Clare College
O:Library, Cambridge. Also in C.J.Sharp, JFSS,
O:IV (1910), p.120(6). Sung by Mrs Ware, Over Stowey,
O:Jan 23, 1907.
N:Tune related to minor form of "The Miller of Dee"
N:No words given in Bronson
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Gm
D | G2 G FGA | BcB A3 |
[M:3/8] c3 | [M:6/8] BAG DEF | G3-G2 D |
G2 G FGA | BcB A3 | [M:3/8] d3 |
[M:6/8] B2 G AGF | G3-G2 |]

X:5
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
T:Lady Isobel and the Elf Knight
B:Bronson
O: "Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight." Phillips Barry, JAF,
O:XVIII (1905), pp. I32-33. Also in Phillips Barry, Fannie
O:H. Eckstorm, and Mary W. Smyth, British Ballads from
O:Maine, 1929, p. 24(F). (Hopkinson) Sung by Miss Leslie W.
O:Hopkinson, Cambridge, Mass., May 3I, I904; from family tradition.
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:G
G>G | G2 GG G2 dd |
w:Pret-ty Pol-ly, she moun-ted her
B2 A2 G3 G | G3 G g2 d2 | a6 d2 |
w:milk-white steed, And he the ambl-ing gray, And
e3 f g3 e | de dc B2 d>d | e3 e d2 BA |
w:they came to the broad_ wa-ter side, Full an hour be-fore it was
G2 A2 HB2 d>d | e3 e d2 BA | G6 |]
w:day, day, day, Full an hour be-fore it was day.
W:
W:Pretty Polly, she mounted her milk-white steed,
W:And he the ambling gray,
W:And they came to the broad water side,
W:Full an hour before it was day, day, day,
W:Full an hour before it was day.
W:
W:"Now light you down, Pretty Polly," he said,
W:"Now light you down," said he,
W:"For six Pretty Pollies have I drownded here,
W:And the seventh you shall be."
W:
W:"Take off your clothes, so costly, so fine,
W:And eke your velvet shoon,
W:For I do think your clothing is too good,
W:For to lie in a watery tomb."
W:
W:"Won't you stoop down to pick that brier,
W:That grows so near the brim?
W:For I am afraid it will tangle my hair,
W:And rumple my lily-white skin."
W:
W:So he stooped down to pick that brier,
W:That grew so near the brim,
W:And with all the might that the Pretty Polly had,
W:She did tumble the false knight in.
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there false knight," she said,
W:"Lie there all in my room,
W:For I do not think your clothing is too good,
W:For to lie in a watery tomb!"
W:
W:Pretty Polly, she mounted her milk-white steed,
W:And led the ambling gray,
W:And she came to her father's stable door,
W:Full an hour before it was day.
W:
W:Then up and spoke her pretty parrot,
W:And unto her did say,
W:"Oh, where have you been, my Pretty Polly,
W:So long before it was day?"
W:
W:"Oh, hold your tongue, you prattling bird,
W:And tell no tales of me,
W:And you shall have a cage of the finest beaten gold,
W:That shall hang on the front willow-tree!"
W:
W:Then up and spoke her father dear,
W:And unto the bird did say,
W:"Oh, what makes you talk, my pretty parrot,
W:So long before it is day?"
W:
W:"The old cat came to my cage door,
W:And fain would have eaten me,
W:And I was a-calling to Pretty Polly,
W:To drive the old cat away."

X:8
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:"The Outlandish Knight." Sharp MSS., I557/. Sung by
O:Mrs. Jarrett, Bridgwater January 7, I908.
N:No lyrics in Bronson
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:C
C | CEG GAG | FEF C2 SG |
ABc dcA | G3-G2 SE | "(a)"GAB c2 E |
"(b)"FGA G2 SC | CEG GFD | C3-C2 |]
%Variant bars:
%"(a)"GAB cEG ||"(b)"FEF G2 C ||

X:9
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 3140/?. Also in Sharp and Karpeles, "English Folk
O:Songs from thc Southern Appalachians",1932, I, pp. 7(C)-8.
O:Sung by Mrs. Moore, Rabun Gap, Ga., May I, 19IO. Collected by
O:Olive Dame Campbell.
N:Dot missing from the d in measure 1 in Bronson
M:3/2
L:1/8
K:G
D2 | (3G2 A2 B2 d6 (3efe | d2 d2 G6 G2 |
w:There was_ a pro-per__ tall young man, And
[M:2/2] c3 d e2 c2 | d6 d2 | d3 B/A/ G2 (3GBA | [M:3/2] G2 G2 D6 D2 |
w:Will-iam was his name; He came a_way ov-er the rag-ing sea, He
G2 AB d6 BA | G2 G2 D6 D2 | G2 AB d6 BA | G6 |]
w:came a_court-ing_ me, O me, He came a_court-ing_ me.
W:
W:There was a proper tall young man,
W:And William was his name;
W:He came away over the raging sea,
W:He came a-courting me, O me,
W:He came a-courting me.
W:
W:He followed me up, he followed me down,
W:He followed me in my room.
W:I had no wings for to fly away,
W:No tongue to say him nay.
W:
W:He took part of my father's gold,
W:Half of my mother's fee;
W:He took two of my father's stable steeds,
W:For there stood thirty and three.
W:
W:The lady rode the milk-white steed,
W:The gentleman rode the grey.
W:They rode all down by the north green land
W:All on one sumrner's day.
W:
W:Light off, light off, my pretty fair miss,
W:I tell you now my mind.
W:Six pretty fair maids I've drownded here,
W:The seventh one you shall be.
W:
W:Hush up, hush up, you old vilyun,
W:That hain't what you promised me.
W:You promised to carry me over the raging sea,
W:And then for to marry me.
W:
W:Turn your back and trim those nettles
W:That grow so near the brim;
W:They'll tangle in my golden hair
W:And tear my lily-white skin.
W:
W:He turned his back to trim those nettles
W:That growed so near the brim
W:This young lady with her skilfulness
W:She tripped her false love in.
W:
W:Lie there, lie there, you old vilyun,
W:Lie there in the place for me.
W:You have nothing so fine nor costly
W:But to rot in the salt water sea.
W:
W:First she rode the milk-white steed
W:And then she rode the grey.
W:She returned back to her father's house
W:Three long hours before it was day.

X:10
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., I822/. Sung by Charles Neville, East Coker, September 2, I908.
H:Sharp's MS. note: "In bar (b) Neville Junior invariably sang C#
[i.e., Bb in transposed text above] to his father's C natural [i.e., B] through-
out the song. In bar (c) they both varied the last note between E &
C# [i.e., D and B#]."
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:C % or Cmix, since the seventh is inflected.
C | CEG GAG | DED C2 C |
"(a)"FEF FGA | G3-G2 E/F/ | GAB cdc |
"(b)"_BGG FE C | "(c)"GAG FDD | C3-C2 |]
%Variant bars
%"(a)"FDF FGA ||"(b)"_BGE FEF ||"(c)"GAG FDB, | C3-C2 |]

X:13
T:The False-Hearted Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, "British Ballads from Maine",I929,
O:pp. 26(G)-28. Sung by Mrs. Guy R. Hathaway, Mattawamkeag, Maine,
O: I928; learned from her father.
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Gm % Bronson has Dorian
D2 | G3 B d3 c | B2 AB G2 d2 |
w:I'll tell you of a false heart-ed knight Who
g2 de f2 ec | d6 d2 | g2 de fe d>c |
w:cour-ted a la-dy_ gay, And all that he want-ed of this
B2 AB G2 GB | d2 dd dc BA | G6 |]
w:pret-ty fair maid Was to take her sweet life_ a_ way.
W:
W:I'll tell you of a false hearted knight
W:Who courted a lady gay,
W:And all that he wanted of this pretty fair maid
W:Was to take her sweet life away.
W:
W:"Go bring me some of your mamma's gold,
W:And some of your daddy's fee,
W:And away we'll ride to some foreign country
W:And married we shall be."
W:
W:She brought him some of her mamma's gold,
W:And some of her daddy's fee,
W:And two of the best horses in her father's stable,
W:Where there stood thirty and three.
W:
W:She then mounted the milk-white steed,
W:Apd he upon the grey,
W:They rode till they came to a fair river side,
W:Six hours before it was day.
W:
W:"Alight, alight, my pretty fair maid,
W:I have something to tell unto thee;
W:For it's six maidens fair I have drowned here
W:And you the seventh shall be."
W:
W:"Some pity, some pity, my own true love,
W:Some pity show unto me,
W:For of all the gold that I ever gave to thee,
W:I will double it over three."
W:
W:"Take off, take off your satin gown,
W:And give it unto me,
W:For I do think that your clothing is too gay
W:To rot in the watery sea."
W:
W:She then took off her satin gown
W:And laid it upon the ground,
W:And out of this fair lady's pocket
W:He took ten thousand pounds.
W:
W:"Go bring me the sickle, that I may crop the nettle
W:That grows on the river's brim,
W:That it may not entangle my curly, curly locks
W:Nor nettle my milk-white skin."
W:
W:He brought the sickle, that she might crop the nettle
W:That grew on the river's brim,
W:And with all of the strength that this fair maid had,
W:She pushed the false knight in.
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there, you false hearted knight,
W:For I think that you've got your doom,
W:And I do not think that your clothing is too gay
W:To rot in a watery tomb."
W:
W:"Some pity, some pity, my pretty fair maid,
W:Some pity show unto me:
W:For of all the vows that I ever made to thee,
W:I will double them over three!"
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there, you false hearted knight,
W:Lie there instead of me,
W:For it's six maidens fair you have drowned here,
W:And the seventh hath drowned thee."
W:
W:She then mounted the milk-white steed,
W:And home she led the grey,
W:She rode till she came to her father's stable door,
W:Three hours before it was day.
W:
W:The parrot being up in the chamber so high,
W:Hearing his mistress, did say:
W:"What is the matter, my own mistress,
W:That you tarry so long before day?"
W:
W:The maid being up in the chamber so high,
W:Hearing what the parrot did say:
W:"O! What is the matter, you silly parrot,
W:That you prattle so long before day?"
W:
W:"The cat she came to my cage door,
W:And would not let me be,
W:And I was obliged my own mistress to call
W:To drive the cat away."
W:
W:"Hold your tongue, my own parrot,
W:And tell no tales on me,
W:And your cage shall be made of the finest of gold,
W:And doors of ivory."

X:14
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:"The Outlandish Knight." Frank Kidson, "Traditional
O:Tunes", I89I, p. I72. Noted by Charles Lolley, Leeds.
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Gm % Hexatonic ( -7) irregular
G2 | G2 dd B2 cB | A2 BA G3 d |
w:An Out-land-ish knight from the North-lands_ came, And
d2 Bc d e2 c | d4 z2 d2 | g2 dd e2 d2 |
w:he came a-woo-ing to me: He prom-ised he'd take me
B2 cc d3 d | G2 dc B2 A2 | G6 |]
w:to the North-lands, And there he would mar-ry me.
W:
W:An Outlandish knight from the Northlands came,
W:And he came a-woo-ing to me:
W:He promised he'd take me to the Northlands,
W:And there he would marry me.

X:15
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 736/. Sung by Mrs. J. Southwood, Bridgwater, January I, I906.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G
D | GGG B2 A | GFE D2 D |
w:The out-land-ish knight came from the North-lands He
G2 A BBe | d3-d2 d | dcB ABc | BAG E2 G |
w:came a woo-ing of me* He said he would take me un-to the North Lands And
AFD DFA | c3-c2 c | BAG DFA | G3-G2 |]
w:there he would mar_ ry me* And there he would mar_ ry me.
W:
W:The outlandish knight came from the Northlands
W:He came a wooing of me
W:He said he would take me unto the North Lands
W:And there he would marry me
W:And there he would marry me.

X:16
T:The King's Daughter
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:"The King's Daughter." George W. Boswell, Tennessee
O:Foli Song Bulletin, XVII, No. 4 (December I95I), pp. 86-87.
O:Sung by Mrs. Jane Snodgrass Johnson, Nashville, Tenn.,
O:June ~4, I950; learned from her father, W. E. Snodgrass,
O:and brought perhaps from the vicinity of Mount Vernon, Va.
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
DD | G2 G2 B3 A | G2 E2 G2 GG |
w:He was mounted on a milk-white steed, And he
A3 A B2 e2 | d6 DD | [M:5/4] G2 GG g2 e3 d |
w:led a dapp-led gray, And he rode till he came to the
[M:4/4] ed B2 A2 G2 | A3 B AG E2 | G2 G2 B2 d2 | A3 B AG E2 | G6 |]
w:old_ king's house Six hours be-fore it was day, day, day, Six hours
be-fore it was day.
W:He was mounted on a milk-white steed,
W:And he led a dappled gray,
W:And he rode till he came to the old king's house
W:Six hours before it was day, day, day,
W:Six hours before it was day.
W:
W:He softly called the princess fair,
W:"Come ride abroad with me,
W:And I will take you to fair Scotland
W:And there I'll marry with thee, thee, thee,
W:And there I'll marry with thee."
W:
W:He rode upon the milk-white steed
W:And she the dappled gray,
W:And they rode till they came to the old salt sea
W:Three hours before it was day, day, day,
W:Three hours before it was day.
W:
W:"Get off your mount, my pretty fair maid,
W:And come stand here by me,
W:For here I've drownded the sixth king's daughter
W:And you the seventh shall be, be, be,
W:And you the seventh shall be.
W:
W:"Take off that gown, that Holland gown,
W:And lay it here by me,
W:For it's too fine and too costly
W:To rot in the old salt sea, sea, sea,
W:To rot in the old salt sea."
W:
W:"Oh, turn your face away from me
W:To the bright green leaves on the trees;
W:It never shall be said such a villain as you
W:A naked princess did see, see, see,
W:A naked princess did see."
W:
W:He turned his eyes away from her
W:To the bright green leaves on the trees,
W:And she picked him up so strong in her arms
W:And flung him into the sea, sea, sea,
W:And flung him into the sea.
W:
W:"Come help, come help, my pretty fair maid,
W:Forgive and succor me,
W:And I'll yet take thee to fair Scotland
W:And there I'll marry with thee, thee, thee,
W:And there I'll marry with thee."
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there, you false-hearted knave;
W:Lie there in room of me.
W:You'd have stripped me as naked as eter I was born,
W:And I ne'er took a stitch from thee, thee, thee,
W:And I ne'er took a stitch from thee."
W:
W:She mounted on the milk-white steed,
W:And she led the dappled gray,
W:And she rode till she came to her father's house
W:One hour before it was day, day, day,
W:One hour before it was day.
W:
W:Up spoke the old parrot from her cage door,
W:And loudly did she say:
W:"Where've you been, my pretty princess,
W:So long before it is day, day, day,
W:So long before it is day?"
W:
W:"Hush up, hush up, my pretty Polly;
W:Don't tell any tales on me,
W:And your cage shall be lined with a wind-beaten gold
W:Hung on yon willow tree, tree, tree,
W:Hung on yon willow tree."
W:
W:Up spoke the old king from his chamber,
W:From his chamber where he lay:
W:"Who are you calling, my pretty Polly,
W:So long before it is day, day, day,
W:So long before it is day?"
W:
W:"The old cat came to my cage door
W:For to devour me,
W:And I was calling my pretty princess
W:To drive the cat awav, 'way, 'way,
W:To drive the cat away."

X:17
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 345/. Sung by Mrs. Eliza Hutchings, Langport, August 22, I904.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G
D | GGG B2 A | GFE D2 B |
w:The out-land-ish knight came from the North Land He
cBc ABc | d3-d2 d | AAA cBA |
w:came_ a woo-ing of me* He said he would take_ me
G>FE D2 D | G>GG ABA | G3-G2 |]
w:to the North-land And there he would mar-*ry me
W:
W:The outlandish knight came from the North Land
W:He came a wooing of me
W:He said he would take me to the Northland
W:And there he would marry me

X:18
T:Lady Isabel
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Barry MSS., I, No. 4, B. Harvard College Library. Sung by Mrs.
O:George Ravois, Vineland, N.J., January 8, I907; learned from
O:her father, Robert O'Farrell, County S!igo.
N:At the end of the fourth phrase, Barry indicates "a flourish," but
N:without musical notation and without abbreviating the last note of
N:that phrase. The "flourish" took care of the words "oh brine."
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G
D | G2 G GAB | DDD D2 D |
w:Take off, take off_ this dress you have on. It
AAA BAB | d3-d2 d | ded dcc |
w:is of the silk_ so fine.* It is_ too good_ and
cdc cB A | GGG DEF |
w:cost-*ly far* To lie in the salt-*sea
G3-G2 A | GGG DEF | G3-G2 |]
w:brine,* To lie in the salt-*sea brine!
W:
W:"Take off, take off this dress you have on.
W:It is of the silk so fine.-
W:It is too good and costly far,
W:To lie in the salt-sea brine,
W:oh, brine,
W:To lie in the salt-sea brine!"
W:
W:"Take off, take off this petticoat you have on.
W:It is of the satin so fine.
W:It is too good and costly far,
W:To lie in the salt-sea brine."
W:
W:"Take off, take off this chemise you have on,
W:It is of the linen so fine,
W:It is too good and costly far
W:To lie in the salt-sea brine."
W:
W:"Oh, turn around and back about,
W:To view the green leaves of the tree,
W:It is not becoming for any young man,
W:A naked lady to see."
W:
W:He turned him round and backed about,
W:To view the green leaves of the tree.
W:She picked him up into her arms,
W:And plunged him into the deep.
W:
W:'0, give me a hold of your little finger,
W:And a fast, fast hold of your thumb,
W:There's not a promise that ever I made,
W:But I'll roll it in one bun!"
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there, you false young man,
W:Lie there instead of me" . . .
W:"Keep secrets, keep secrets, my pretty parrot,
W:Keep secrets this night unto me!" . . .
W:
W:"There's nine wild cats at my cage door,
W:. . . . . . . .

X:19.
T:The False Hearted Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Davis, "Traditional Ballads of Virginia", I929, p. ssr(R);
O:text, pp. 84-85. Sung by Mrs. Harrington, Roanoke, Va.,
O:December I7, 1916. Collected by Alfreda M. Peel.
N:The opening of this variant may be compared with the Kidson
N:(1891) and Sandburg (1927) variants, X:63 and 64.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G % Hexatonic ( -4) Lydian/Ionian
G | G2 B d2 f | g2 f g2 e/e/ |
w:Now turn your back to me__ And your
def gfd | d3 d2 B/A/ | G2 B/A/ G2 B/A/ |
w:face to the leaves on the tree; Such a wicked man as thou'rt
GED G2 B | d3 BAG | GED G2 |]
w:isn't fit A naked woman to see.
W:
W:"Now turn your back to me
W:And your face to the leaves on the tree;
W:Such a wicked man as thou'rt isn't fit
W:A naked woman to see."
W:
W:And turning his back to her
W:And his face to the leaves on the tree,
W:She picked him up in her own strong arms
W:And threw him in the sea.
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there, false-hearted knight,
W:Lie there instead of me;
W:Three king's [sic] daughters you have drowned,
W:But I the fourth shan't be."
W:
W:And mounting on her own bay horse
W:And leading the dapple gray,
W:She then arrived at her father's house
W:One hour and a half before day.
W:
W:Her father hearing her come in
W:Got up, and thus did say:
W:"Who enters here, who enters here,
W:When 'tis so near to day?"
W:
W:The pretty parrot began to talk
W:And laugh so fitfully:
W:"The cat was before my little cage door
W:And about to have eaten me."
W:
W:The girl came up and thus did say
W:To the pretty parrot blithe and gay:
W:"O mistress Polly, you keep still
W:And tell no tales on me;
W:Your cage shall be made of beaten gold,
W:And hang on a willow tree."

X:20
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:A. Sharp MSS., 356/. Also in Sharp, JFSS, IV (I9IO), p.
O:I2I(7). Sung by Mrs. J. Chapman, West Harptree, Somerset,
O:August 25, I904.
O:B.Sharp MSS., I084/. Same singer, August 28, I906.
N:A and B are two tunes collected from the same singer.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G %A tune Hexatonic ( -4) Lyd/Ion, B tune heptatonic
P:A
d | dAB A/G/Gd | dAB G2 d |
w:An out-land-ish gent-le-man came from the North South a-
def gfe | d3-d2 d | ded/d/ gfe |
w:woo___ing with me* He told me he would tak-en me
ded BA G | GBd ABA | G3-G2 |]
w:un-to the North Land and then he would mar_ry me.
P:B
G | GBd AGd | dAB G2 G | GBd gfe |
w:An out-land-ish gentle-man came from the North South a- woo___ing with
[M:3/8]d2 d | [M:6/8] def gfg | edB cB c | ded AcB | G2 |]
w:me He told me he would take me un-to the North Land and then he would
mar_ry me.
W:
W:An outlandish gentleman came from the North South
W:a-wooing with me
W:He told me he would taken me unto the North Land
W:and then he would marry me.

X:21
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 486I/. Sung by Mrs. Barnard (57), Mitcheldean, September 6, I92I.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G
d | dBG GAG | BGA G2 G |
w:It was_ a cold_ Dec-em-ber morn-ing When
GBd gfe | d3-d2 d | edd g2 e |
w:he came a woo-ing of me* He prom-ised he'd take me
dBA G2 G | Age "(a)"dcA | G3-G2 |]
w:to the North land And there he would mar-*ry me.
%"(a)"dcd ||
W:
W:It was a cold December morning
W:When he came a wooing of me
W:He promised he'd take me to the North land
W:And there he would marry me.

X:22
T:The False-hearted Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, "British Ballads from Maine",
O:I929, pp. I9(C)-20. Sung by Mrs. A. W. (Barry) Lindenberg, Shirley,
Mass., I922.
N:In Bronson the second e in measure 5 is given as a quarter note.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G
B | d2 B d2 G | B2 A G2 d |
w:She mount-ed on her milk-white steed, And
eee efg | d3-d2 d | e2 e efg |
w:he on his dap_ple gray, And forth from her fath_er's
B2 A G2 B | d2 d c2 A | G3-G2 |]
w:house they went, Be-fore the break of day.
W:
W:She mounted on her milk-white steed,
W:And he on his dapple gray,
W:And forth from her father's house they went,
W:Before the break of day.
W:
W:They rode and rode and rode away
W:Until they came to the sea,
W:And here they pulled their horses up
W:Hard by a willow tree.
W:
W:"Now get thee down, my pretty Pollee,
W:And harken unto me,-
W:Six pretty maidens I've drownded here,
W:And you the seventh shall be.
W:
W:"Take off, take off that silken gown,
W:And give it unto me,-
W:A silken gown is much too fine
W:To rot in the salt sea."
W:
W:"O turn about, O turn about,
W:And face the willow tree,-
W:While I take off the silken gown
W:And give it unto thee."
W:
W:He turned about, he turned about,
W:And faced the willow tree,-
W:She took him in her lily-white arms,
W:And threw him into the sea.
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there, my false lover,
W:Lie there instead of me,-
W:If six pretty maidens you've drownded here,
W:Go bear them company!"
W:
W:She mounted on her milk-white steed,
W:And led the dapple gray,
W:And back she went to her father's house,
W:Before the break of day.
W:
W:The first she saw was the little parrot,-
W:"O where have you been from me?
W:O where have you been in the early morn,-
W:O where have you been from me?"
W:
W:"O say no more, my little parrot,-
W:O say no more to me,
W:And I'll give thee a golden cage,
W:To hang on the chestnut tree!"
W:
W:The next to speak was her mother dear,-
W:"O where have you been from me?"
W:"I've been to church in the early morn,
W:To say a prayer for thee."

X:23
T:The Seven King's Daughters
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Davis, "Traditional Ballads of Virginia", I929'p. 550(F);
O:text, pp. 7I-72. Sung by Miss Odell Roop, Vinton, Va., September II,
O:I922. Collected by Alfreda M. Peel.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Gmix
B | d2 d d2 d | B2 A G2 d |
w:There was a man out in the land, He
eee c2 e | [M:3/8] Hd2 d | [M:6/8] ggg BAB |
w:court-ed a maid-en fair; He prom-ised to take her to
[M:9/8] cBc d3 B2 d | [M:6/8] d2 c B2 A | G3-G2 |]
w:north_ern lands, There the marr_iage should be.
W:
W:There was a man out in the land,
W:He courted a maiden fair;
W:He promised to take her to northern lands,
W:There the marriage should be.
W:
W:"Go get some of your father's gold,
W:Some of your mother's fee;
W:Get two of the horses that stand in the stalls,
W:That stand by forty and three.
W:
W:"Dismount, dismount your milky steed
W:And deliver it unto me;
W:For six king's daughters have I drowned,
W:And the seventh one you shall be.
W:
W:"Pull off, pull off your silky robe
W:And deliver it unto me;
W:For I think it is too costly
W:To roll in the deep blue sea."
W:
W:"If I must pull off my silky robe,
W:Please turn your back on me;
W:For I think it's not nice, you know,
W:A naked maiden to see."
W:
W:He turned his back all unto her;
W:She wept most bitterly;
W:She grabbed him round his thin small waist
W:And tumbled him into the sea.
W:
W:He waved on high, he waved on low,
W:He waved till he came to her (side?):
W:"Take hold of my hand, my pretty Pauline,
W:And you shall be my bride."

X:24
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Davis, I929, p. 55I(S); text, p. 85. Sung by Lucile Noel,
O:Vinton, Va., November 30, I923. Noted by Evelyn Rex.
O:Collected by Alfreda M. Peel.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Hexatonic ( -7) Ionian/Mixolydian
d | d2 d d2 d | B2 A G2 d |
w:Go get me of my fath-er's gold, And
eee cde | d3-d2 d | gBB BAB |
w:some of my moth*er's feed;* Get two of the hors-es that
cBc d2 B | d2 d cBA | G3-G2 |]
w:stand in the stall, That stand by for-ty and three.
W:
W:"Go get me of my father's gold,
W:And some of my mother's feed;
W:Get two of the horses that stand in the stall,
W:That stand by forty and three."

X:25
T:Tell-tale Polly
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Charley Fox's Minstrel's Companion,
O:n.d., p. 52 (photostat copy, Phillips Barry Collection,
O:Harvard College Library).
N:Bronson has measure 6 as | dedB G3 e |. I changed it to
N:match the words. He also has an alternate measure 7:
N:| d2 c2 A2 B2 |
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Hexatonic ( -7) Ionian/Mixolydian
Bc | d2 d2 e3 e | dedB G2 Bc |
w:She* mount-ed on her bon-ny, bon-ny brown, And she
d2 d2 g3 B | d2 z2 z2 z d | gggg d2 BB |
w:led the dapp-le gray, So merr-i-ly she rode by the
dedB G2 ee | d2 cc A2 BB |
w:mer-ry green-*wood Till she came to the brink of the
G2 A2 B2 ee | d2 BB A2 BB | G2 z2 z2 |]
w:sea__ Till she came to the brink of the sea.
W:
W:She mounted on her bonny, bonny brown,
W:And she led the dapple gray,
W:So merrily she rode by the merry greenwood
W:Till she came to the brink of the sea,
W:Till she came to the brink of the sea.
W:
W:Lie there, lie there, you false-hearted man,
W:Lie there instead of me;
W:'Tis six fair maidens you have drowned in the sea,
W:And the seventh one you shall be, &c.
W:
W:She mounted on her bonny, bonny brown,
W:And she led the dapple gray:
W:So merrily she rode by the merry greenwood,
W:So long before it was day, &c.
W:
W:The parrot overheard the noise,
W:And unto her did say,
W:What was the matter, my pretty little lass,
W:So long before 'twas day? &c.
W:
W:The father overheard the noise,
W:And unto her did say,
W:What is the matter with my darling little child
W:So long before the broke cf day? &c.
W:
W:There is a cat at my cage-door,
W:And it swears it will have me;
W:And I have come to call my Collin dear,
W:To drive the cat away, &c.
W:
W:Oh, hush! oh hush! my pretty, pretty poll,
W:And tell no tales on me:
W:Your cage shall be made of pure beaten gold,
W:And your door of ivory-ee, &c.

X:28
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:A. Sharp MSS., I405/I290. Also in Sharp, 4th series, I908,
O:No. 84; and Sharp, I916, p. 29, with piano accompaniment.
O:Sung by Joseph Laver (73), Bridgwater, August I4, I907.
O:B.Sharp MSS., 1002/. Sung by Joseph Laver (72), Bridgwater, August I3, 1906.
N:These two tunes from the same singer were listed separtely
N:by Bronson as nos. 28a and 28b. The A tune also listed many alternate bars.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Ddor
[P:A]D | AAB c2 E | GFE D2 G |
w:An out-land-ish knight came from the North Lands, And
A2 c dcB | A3-A2 G | ABc ded |
w:he came woo-ing to me,* He told me he'd take me to
cAF G2 A | BcB A2 D | D3-D2 |]
w:some for-eign lands And there he would mar-ry me.
[P:B]D | AAB c2 G | FGE D2 G |
w:An out-land-ish knight came from the North Lands, He
A2 c dcB | A3-A2 G | AAB cde |
w:came a woo-ing of me,* He said he would take me un-
dBG A2 G | ABA G2 E | D3-D2 |]
w:to the North-lands And there he would mar-ry me.
W:
W:An outlandish knight came from the North Lands,
W:And he came wooing to me,
W:He told me he'd take me to some foreign lands
W:And there he would marry me.
W:
W:Go fetch me some of your mother's gold
W:And some of your father's fee
W:And two of the best nags out of the stable
W:Where there stood thirty and three.
W:
W:She fetched him some of her mother's gold
W:And some of her father's fee
W:And two of the best nags out of the stable
W:Where there stood thirty and three.
W:
W:Now she mounted on her milk white steed
W:And he on his dippled grey
W:And they rode till they came to the sea side
W:Three hours before it was day.
W:
W:Duff off, duff off, your silken things
W:And deliver them up to me
W:For it looks too rich and too gay
W:To rot all in the salt sea.
W:
W:If I must take off my silken things
W:Pray turn thy back unto me
W:For it's not fitting that such a ruffian
W:A naked woman should see.
W:
W:Now he turned his back unto her
W:And viewed the watery stream,
W:She catched him round the middle so small
W:And forced him into the stream.
W:
W:He drooped high, he drooped low,
W:Until he came to the side.
W:Catch hold of my hand my pretty Polly
W:And you shall be my bride.
W:
W:Lay there, lay there you false hearted man,
W:Lay there in the stead of me.
W:There are six pretty maidens thou hast a [sic] drowned there
W:But the seventh have drownded thee.
W:
W:Now she mounted on her milk-white steed
W:And led the dipple grey
W:And she rode till she came to her own father's house
W:Three hours before it was day.

X:29
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:J. Collingwood Bruce and John Stokoe, "Northumbrian Minstrelsy", I882,
O:pp. 48-50. Also, with accompaniment, in John Stokoe and Samuel Reay, Songs of
O:Northern England, I892, p. I30. Sung by Mrs.Andrews, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:C
G | GAG cdc | BGG G2 G |
w:An Out-land-ish knight* came from the north lands, And
GAG cBA | G3-G2 G | GAG cdc |
w:he came a woo-ing to me;* He told me he'd take me un-
BGE F2 E/F/ | GAG FDB, | C3-C2 |]
w:to the North lands, And* there he would mar-*ry me.
W:
W:An Outlandish knight came from the north lands,
W:And he came a wooing to me;
W:He told me he'd take me unto the North lands,
W:And there he would marry me.
W:
W:"Come, fetch me some of your father's gold,
W:And some of your mother's fee;
W:And two of the best nags out of the stable,
W:Where they stand thirty and three."
W:
W:She fetched him some of her father's gold,
W:And some of her mother's fee;
W:And two of the best nags out of the stable,
W:Where they stood thirty and three.
W:
W:She mounted her on her milk-white steed.
W:He on the dapple grey,
W:They rode till they came unto the sea side,
W:Three hours before it was day.
W:
W:"Light off, light off thy milk-white steed,
W:And deliver it unto me;
W:Six pretty maids have I drowned here,
W:And thou the seventh shall be.
W:
W:Pull off, pull off thy silken gown,
W:And deliver it unto me,
W:Methinks it looks too rich and gay,
W:To rot in the salt sea.
W:
W:Pull off, pull off, thy silken stays,
W:And deliver them unto me,
W:Methinks they are too fine and gay
W:To rot in the salt sea.
W:
W:Pull off, pull off, thy Holland smock,
W:And deliver it unto me,
W:Methinks it looks too rich and gay,
W:To rot in the salt sea."
W:
W:"If I must pull off my Holland smock,
W:Pray turn thy back to me,
W:For it is not fitting that such a ruffian,
W:A naked woman should see."
W:
W:He's turned his back towards her,
W:And viewed the leaves so green,
W:She catched him round the middle so small,
W:And tumbled him into the stream.
W:
W:He dropped high, he dropped low,
W:Until he came to the side,-
W:"Catch hold of my hand, my pretty maiden,
W:And I will make you my bride."
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there, you false-hearted man,
W:Lie there instead of me;
W:Six pretty maids have you drowned here,
W:And the seventh has drowned thee."
W:
W:She mounted on her milk-white steed,
W:And led the dapple grey;
W:She rode till she came to her own father's hall,
W:Three hours before it was day.
W:
W:The parrot being in the window so high,
W:Hearing the lady, did say;
W:"I'm afraid that some ruffian has led you astray,
W:That you've tarried so long away."
W:
W:"Don't prittle or prattle, my pretty parrot,
W:Nor tell no tales of me;
W:Thy cage shall be made of the glittering gold,
W:Although it is made of a tree."
W:
W:The king being in the chamber so high,
W:And hearing the parrot, did say:
W:"What ails you, what ails you, my pretty parrot,
W:That you prattle so long before day."
W:
W:"It's no laughing matter," the parrot did say;
W:"But so loudly I call unto thee,
W:For the cats have got into the window so high,
W:And I'm afraid they will have me."
W:
W:"Well turned, well turned, my pretty parrot,
W:Well turned, well turned for me;
W:Thy cage shall be made of the glittering gold,
W:And the door of the best ivory."

X:30
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Frank Kidson, JFSS, II (I906), p. 282(2).
O:Sung at Knaresboro', Yorkshire.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:C
G | G>AG c>dc | B3 G2 G |
w:An out-land-ish Knight from the north-lands, And
G>AG c>BA | G3-G2 G | G>AG c>dc |
w:he came a-woo-ing to me;* He prom-is'd he'd take me un-
BGG G2 E/F/ | G>AG FDB, | C3-C3 |
w:to the north-lands, And* there he would mar-*ry me;
c3 A3 | G2 A/G/ GFD | C3-C2 |]
w:Oh! and there he would mar-*ry me.
W:
W:An outlandish Knight from the northlands,
W:And he came a-wooing to me;
W:He promis'd he'd take me unto the northlands,
W:And there he would marry me;
W:Oh! and there he would marry me.

X:31
T:The Robber and the Lady
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Alice E. Gillington, "Eight Hampshire Folk Songs",I907, pp. 4-5.
O:"Taken from the mouths of the peasantry."
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:C
G | AED C2 G/G/ | FDE C2 G |
c2 c BGA | G3-G2 G | ccc B2 G |
AFA G2 E | EGE DCD | C3-C2 |]
W:
W:An outlandish Knight from the North Countrie
W:He came a-bowing to me;
W:He told me he'd take me to the Northlands,
W:And there he'd marry me.
W:
W:"Give me some of your father's gold,
W:And some of your mother's fee!
W:And take two of the best nags out of the stable,
W:Where there stands thirty and three."
W:
W:She mounted on her milk-white steed,
W:And he on the dapper grey;
W:And they rode till they came to some fair waterside,
W:Three hours before it was day.
W:
W:"Light off, light off your milk-white steed,
W:And deliver it unto me!
W:For six pretty maidens I have a-drown'd here,
W:And you the seventh will be!"
W:
W:"Pull off, pull off your silken gown,
W:And deliver it unto me!
W:For I think it do look too rich and too gay
W:To rot all in the salt sea!"
W:
W:"O, turn, O, turn" the Lady cried;
W:"O, turn your back unto me!-
W:For it is not fit that such a robber
W:An innocent woman should see!"
W:
W:Then she took off her silken gown,
W:And bitterly did she weep;
W:And she caught him round the middle so small,
W:And tumbled him into the deep.
W:
W:He floated high, he floated low,
W:He floated near the sea side,
W:"Lay hold of my hand, my pretty Lady,
W:I will make you my lawful bride!
W:
W:"Lay there, lay there, thou false-hearted man!
W:Lay there instead of me!
W:For six pretty maidens thou hast a-drown'd here,
W:And the seventh will now drown thee!"
W:
W:She mounted on her milk-white steed,
W:A-leading the dapper grey,
W:And she rode till she came to her father's door,
W:One hour before it was day.
W:
W:And the parrot being up in the window so high
W:And hearing the lady pass by;-
W:"O, I think some false hearted man you have slain,
W:You come rambling so long before day!"
W:
W:"Don't prittle nor prattle, my pretty Polly!
W:Don't tell little tales on me!
W:And your cage shall be made of the glittering gold,
W:And your door of the best ivory!"

Group B

X:98
T:Pretty Polly
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Arthur Palmer Hudson, Folk Tunes from Mississippi, T937,
O:No. II. Sung by Mrs. R. C. Jones, Oxford, Miss., c. I923-30.
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Gdor % Hexatonic ( -6) Dorian/Aeolian
F2 | G2 F2 B2 d2 | B2 G2 F2 F2 | G2 F2 f2 c2 |
w:Oh take some of your fath-er's gold, Like-wise your moth-er's
d6 F2 | G2 FF B2 d2 | [M:3/2] BB G2 F6 BA |
w:fee, And two of your fath-er's fin-est hors-es, Where
[M:4/4] G2 G2 D2 C2 | F2 F2 D2 BA | F2 F2 D2 F2 | G6 |]
w:there stands thir-ty-three, three, three, Where* there stands thir-ty-three.
W:
W:Oh take some of your father's gold,
W:Likewise your mother's fee,
W:And two of your father's finest horses,
W:Where there stands thirty-three, three, three,
W:Where there stands thirty-three.

X:99
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 3702/2754. Also in Sharp and Karpeles, I932,
O:I, pp. I0(F)-II. Sung by Mrs. Joe Vanhook, Berea College,
O:Madison County, Ky., May 20, I9I7.
N:Versions of "The House Carpenter" (Child #243) resemble this tune.
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:Gdor
c | d d f =e | d d/d/ G G |
c c/d/ =e e | d3 B/c/ | d d c B |
G G/F/ D G | c c d/c/ A | G3 |]
W:
W:Come rise you up, my pretty Polly,
W:And go along with me.
W:I'll take you to the North Scotland,
W:And married we will be.
W:
W:Go bring me a bag of your father's gold,
W:Likewise your mother's fee,
W:And two of the best horses that stand in the stall,
W:For there stand thirty and three.
W:
W:She brought him a bag of her father's gold,
W:Likewise her mother's fee,
W:And two of the best horses that stand in the stall,
W:For there stand thirty and three.
W:
W:She lit upon her nimble going brown,
W:[He] mounted the dapple grey,
W:And when they reached the North Scotland
W:Just three hours before the day.
W:
W:Light you down, light you down, my pretty Polly,
W:Light you down at my command.
W:Six kings' daughters here have I drowned,
W:And the seventh you shall be.
W:
W:Pull off, pull off those fine gay clothes,
W:And hang on yonder tree,
W:For they are too fine and they cost too much
W:For to rest in the salt lake sea.
W:
W:Go get those sickles for to cut those nettles
W:That grow so close to the brine,
W:For they may tangle in my long, yellow hair,
W:And stain my snowy white skin.
W:
W:He got those sickles for to cut those nettles
W:That grow so close to the brine;
W:And poor, kind Polly with a pitifully wish
W:And shoved false Wilfiam in.
W:
W:Lie there, lie there, you low William,
W:Lie there in the room of me.
W:Six kings' daughters you here have drowned,
W:And you the seventh shall be.
W:
W:Hush up, hush up, you pretty parrot bird,
W:Tell none of your tales on me.
W:Your cage shall be made of the yellow beating gold,
W:And your doors of ivory.
W:
W:Up speaks, up speaks that good old man
W:In his rook wherever he be:
W:What's the matter, what's the matter with my pretty parrot bird,
W:She's talking so long before it is day?
W:
W:Here sits three cats at my cage door,
W:My life expecting to betray;
W:I was just calling up my pretty, golden bee
W:For to drive those cats away.

X:100
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 4204/. Also in Sharp and Karpeles, I932, I,
O:p. I2(H). Sung by Mrs. Laurel Wheeler, Buena Vista, Va., May 2, I9I8.
N:Cf. also variants of "The Daemon Lover" or "The House Carpenter" (Child #243).
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Dm
c2 | d3 e f2 ee | d2 A2 G2 c2 |
w:(Oh) Take the most of your fath-er's gold Like-
d3 e f2 ec | d6 G2 | B2 cc d2 AF |
w:wise your moth-er's* fee And two of your fath-er's_
G2 GF D2 DF | "(a)"G2 Bc dc A2 | G6 |]
w:best hor-*ses Come* go a-*long* with me.
%"(a)"G2 Bc d2 cA ||
W:
W:Take the most of your father's gold
W:Likewise your mother's fee
W:And two of your father's best horses
W:Come go a-long with me.

X:101
T:Pretty Polly
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Barry, Eckstorm, and Smyth, "British Ballads from Maine",I929, p. XXVii.
Text,
O:Barry MSS., IV, No. 206. Sung by Milton H. Osborn, Vineland,
O:N.J., February I7, I907; learned from his older sister in Missouri.
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:C
C | G G/>A/ c G | A G G C |
w:Mount up, mount* up, my pretty Pol-ly, And
G A c A | G3 G | c G A C | F A G A |
w:come a-long with me, I'll take thee to the far Scot-land, And
G G F D | C D E A | G G F D | C3 |]
w:there I'll mar-ry thee, thee, thee, And there I'll mar-ry thee!
W:
W:"Mount up, mount up, my pretty Polly,
W:And come along with me,
W:And I'll take thee to the far Scotland,
W:And there I'll marry thee, thee, thee,
W:And there I'll marry thee!"
W:
W:Then they went to her father's stable,
W:And viewed the stalls around,
W:He chose out the dapple gray,
W:And she the pony brown.
W:
W:She mounted upon the little pony brown,
W:And he on the dapple gray,
W:And they rode and they rode thro' the merry green woods,
W:Till they came to the side of the sea.
W:
W:"Light off, light off, my pretty Polly,
W:Light off, light off," said he,
W:"For 6 King's daughters I've drownded here,
W:And the seventh you shall be!"
W:
W:"Take off these costly robes of silk,
W:And fold them upon your knee,
W:For it is a shame . . .
W:To rot in the salt water sea!"
W:
W:"Turn your face quite round about,
W:With your face to the leaves on the tree . .
W:(Something about a naked woman follows-
W:not recollected.)
W:
W:. . . . .
W:. . . . . .
W:And she picked him up quite manfully,
W:And threw him into the sea.
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there you false-hearted wretch
W:Lie there in the place of me!
W:For 6 King's daughters you've drownded here,
W:And the seventh has drowaded thee!"
W:
W:"O help me out, my pretty Polly,
W:O help me outl" cried he,
W:"And I'll take thee to the far Scotland,
W:And there I'll marry thee!"
W:
W:She mounted upon her little pony brown,
W:And led the dapple gray.
W:. . . . . .
W:. . . . . .
W:(Then followed some lines, not recollected, in
W:which the parrot asks Polly where she has been.)
W:
W:"O hold your tongue, my pretty parrot,
W:And tell no lies on me,
W:And I'll line your cage with the pure yellow gold,
W:And hang it on a green willow tree!"
W:(Then followed some lines, not recollected, in
W:which Polly's father asks the parrot what is
W:the matter.)
W:
W:"The cat she came to my cage window door,
W:And threatened to devour me,
W:And I called up my pretty Polly
W:To drive the cat away!"

X:102
T:False Sir John
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Kentucky Mountain Songs, Elektra, LP rec. 25. Sung by
O:Jean Ritchie, I954; learned from family tradition.
N:First bar given as: d |d d2 g>e | (which doesn't add up)
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:Gmix % Hexatonic ( -4) irregular
d |d2 g>e | d d/B/ HG d |
w:False Sir John a-woo-ing* came To~a
d d g f | d3 d | d d "(a)"g e | d d/B/ G3/ G/ |
w:la-dy young and fair. May Col-vin was this la-dy's* name, Her
B B A G | B3 D | B B A B/A/ | G3 |]
w:fath-er's on-ly heir, Her fath-er's on-ly* heir.
%"(a)"g g/e/ ||"(a)"g3/ e/ ||
W:
W:False Sir John a-wooing came
W:To a lady young and fair.
W:May Colvin was this lady's name,
W:Her father's only heir,
W:Her father's only heir.
W:
W:He wooed her while she spun the thread
W:And while they made the hay,
W:Until he gained her low consent
W:To mount and ride away,
W:To mount and ride away.
W:
W:"It's bring me some of your father's gold
W:And some of your mother's fee.
W:I'll take thee to some far-off land
W:And there I'll marry thee,
W:And there I'll marry thee."
W:
W:She's gone unto her father's coffer,
W:Where all of his monies lay;
W:She's took the yellow and left the white
W:And lightly skipped away,
W:And lightly skipped away.
W:
W:She's gone unto her father's stables,
W:Where all of his steeds did stand;
W:She's took the best and left the worst
W:In all her father's land,
W:In all her father's land.
W:
W:She's mounted on a milk-white steed
W:And he on a dapple gray;
W:And they rode till they come to a lonesome spot,
W:A cliff by the side of the sea,
W:A cliff by the side of the sea.
W:
W:"Light down, light down," said False Sir John;
W:"Your bridal bed you'll see:
W:It's seven women have I drownded here
W:And the eighth one you shall be,
W:And the eighth one you shall be.
W:
W:"Have off, have off your Holland smock
W:With borders all around,
W:For it's too costly to lav down here
W:And rot on the cold, cold ground,
W:And rot on the cold, cold ground."
W:
W:"Turn around, turn around, thou False Sir John,
W:And look at the leaves on the tree.
W:It don't become a gentleman
W:A naked woman to see,
W:A naked woman to see."
W:
W:Oh, False Sir John has turned around
W:To gaze at the leaves on the tree;
W:She's made a dash with her tender little arms
W:And pushed him into the sea,
W:And pushed him into the sea.
W:
W:"Oh, help! oh, help! May Colvin!
W:Oh, help, or I shall drown!
W:I'll take you back to your father's house
W:And lightly set you down,
W:And lightly set you down."
W:
W:"No help, no help," said May Colvin,
W:"No help will you get from me.
W:The bed's no colder to you, sir,
W:Than you thought to give to me,
W:Than you thought to give to me."
W:
W:She mounted on the milk-white steed
W:And led the dapple gray,
W:And rode till she come to her father's house
W:At the breaking of the day,
W:At the breaking of the day.
W:
W:Then up and spoke the little parrot,
W:Said: "May Colvin, where have you been?
W:And what have you done with False Sir John
W:That went with you ridin',
W:That went with you ridin'?"
W:
W:"Oh, hold your tongue, you little parrot
W:And tell no tales on me,
W:And I'll buy you a cage of beaten gold
W:With spokes of ivory,
W:With spokes of ivory."

X:103
T:Pretty Polly
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Davis, "Traditional Ballads of Virginia",I929, p. 54g(B);
O:text, pp. 65-67. Sung by Hill Jackson (Negro), Brown's Cove,
O:Va., June I, I9I7. Collected by Miss D. R. Martin, J. M. McManaway;
O:music noted by John Stone, November 3, I920.
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:C % Hexatonic ( -4) Lydian/Ionian
E | G G c c | B A G E | G G c E |
w:He followed me up, he followed me down, He followed me all the
G3 E | G G/G/ c c | B A G E |
w:way; I had not the heart to say one word, Nor
G G G D | E G G D | G G G D | C3 |]
w:heart to say him nay, nay, nay, Nor heart to say him nay.
W:
W:"He followed me up, he followed me down,
W:He followed me all the way;
W:I had not the heart to say one word,
W:Nor heart to say him nay, nay, nay,
W:Nor heart to say him nay."
W:
W:"You get all of your father's gold,
W:Likewise your mother's fee,
W:And two of your father's best horses
W:Which are of thirty and three,
W:And come along with me."
W:
W:She jumped upon the bonny, bonny, brown,
W:And he the piebald bay,
W:And rode along by the broad water side
W:That lonely lazy summer day, day, day,
W:That long summer day.
W:
W:"Set you down, set you down, Pretty Polly,
W:And chat a while with me;
W:For here I've drownded six king's daughters,
W:And you were the seventh to be, to be,
W:And you were the seventh to be."
W:
W:"No, Jimmy, my pretty Jimmy,
W:That's not what you promised me;
W:You promised to take me to the marriage land,
W:And there to marry me, me, me,
W:And there to marry me."
W:
W:"Pull off, pull off those costly robes,
W:And hang them on yonder tree;
W:They are too costly and fine
W:To swim in the salt water sea, sea, sea,
W:To swim in the salt water sea."
W:
W:"Turn your face about
W:Into the leaves of the tree."
W:She picked him up in her arms so strong
W:And plunged home [sic] into the sea, sea, sea,
W:And plunged home into the sea.
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there, you false-hearted wretch,
W:Lie there, instead of me;
W:Six king's daughters you've drownded there,
W:And I the seventh was to be, be, be,
W:And I the seventh was to be."
W:
W:"Oh no, Polly, oh no, Polly,
W:All I want is help from thee,
W:And if I get to shore again,
W:I'm sure to marry thee, thee, thee,
W:I'm sure to marry thee."
W:
W:She jumped upon the bonny, bonny, brown,
W:And he the piebald bay,
W:And arrived at her father's house
W:Three hours before 't was day, day, day,
W:Three hours before 't was day.
W:
W:She put the gold into its place,
W:And the horses where its would be,
W:And arrived into her chamber fair,
W:Two hours before 't was day, day, day,
W:Two hours before 't was day.
W:
W:Then up rised that pretty parrot
W:. . . . . . . .
W:"Oh, what are you doing up
W:So long before't was day, day, day,
W:So long before 't was day?"
W:
W:"Set you down, get you down, Pretty Polly,
W:Don't tell no tales on me;
W:Your cage shall be made of hand-beaten gold,
W:The door out of ivory, -ry, -ry,
W:The door out of ivory."
W:
W:Then up rose that good old man,
W:Then up rose that good old man.
W:"What are you doing up
W:So long before 'tis day, day, day,
W:So long before 'tis day?"
W:
W:"There are three cats at my cage door,
W:Trying to do violence to me,
W:And I'm just call (-ing) Miss Polly
W:To drive those cats away, -way, -way,
W:To drive those cats away."

X:104
T:Pretty Polly
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Davis, "Traditional Ballads of Virginia",I929, p. 550(P); text, pp. 83-84.
O:Sung by an old lady in Lee County, Va., November 3, T920. Collected by Olive
O:Flora Bryson.
N:With this variant, cf. "Pretty Peggy O" (Sharp and Karpeles, 1932,
N:II, p. 59(B), a version of the Scottish "Lass o' Fyvie").
M:2/4
L:1/8
K:Am % but modulating to Ddor on the last line
G | AA eA | cB HA G | AA dB |
w:
A3 G | AA/A/ eA | cB/G/ HF B |
w:
AA/A/ GE | DE G B | AA/A/ GE | D3 |]
w:
W:
W:"Hush, hush, my pretty Polly dear,
W:Don't tell any tales on me.
W:Your cage shall be made of yellow beaten gold
W:And hung in a willow tree, -e, -e,
W:And hung in a willow tree."
W:
W:"She rode away on a milk-white steed
W:And led the dapple gray
W:. . . . . . . . .
W:Three hours before break of day."
W:
W:The father hears her go out and questions the
W:parrot, who replies:
W:
W:"A bold cat came to my cage door
W:And threatened to worry me (or, threatened war with me)
W:And I was calling to my pretty Polly dear
W:To drive the cat away, away,
W:To drive the cat away."
W:
W:They come to a deep pool, the knight secures
W:her jewels and sings:
W:
W:. . . . . . .
W:. . . . . .
W:"Six king's daughters I've drownded here
W:And the seventh one you shall be, -e,-e,
W:And the seventh one you shall be."
W:
W:There is a struggle, thc maid frees herself and
W:throws the knight into thc pool, then sings:
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there, you false young man,
W:. . . . . . . .
W:For six king's daughters you've drownded here
W:But the seventh one's drownded you, -u, -u,
W:But the seventh one's drownded you."

X:105
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 4585/3208-9. Sung by Mrs. George McCormick,
O:Garden City, N.C., September 9, I9I8.
N:Sharp's notation was for the second verse. He did not
N:note how the irregularities of the other verses were accommodated.
M:3/2
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [¼1]
G2 AA B2 | d6 BA GG B2 | A2 G4 G2 AA B2 |
w:He foll-owed me up, he* foll-owed me down_ He foll-owed me
d6 BA G2 B2 | A6 G2 AA BB | d6 BA G2 B2 | [M:2/2] A4 B3 A |
w:to my* fath-er's room; I'd not* any* tongue to* say O Nay, And then
G2 AG E G2 E | [M:3/2] D2 E2 G4 B3 A | [M:2/2] G2 AG E G2 E | [M:3/2] D6 |]
w:he came* a court-ing of* me. And then he came* court-ing of me.
W:
W:I'll tell you of a brisk young sailor,
W:And Jimmy his name shall be,
W:He came across the wide ocean,
W:And then he came courting of me.
W:
W:He followed me up, he followed me down,
W:He followed me to my father's room;
W:I'd not any tongue to say O Nay,
W:Nor no wings to fly away.
W:
W:I want part of your father's money,
W:I want your mother's key,
W:And two of the best horses out of thirty and three.
W:
W:I gave him part of my father's money,
W:I gave him my mother's key,
W:And two of the best horses out of thirty and three.
W:
W:He set me up on the milk-white steed,
W:And himself on the iron grey;
W:We rode till we came to the Asia shore
W:Just the length of a summer's day.
W:
W:Get down, get down, my pretty fair maid,
W:And pull the leaves upon the trees.
W:Six fair maids I have drowned here
W:And the seventh you shall be.
W:
W:Turn your back, she said to him,
W:Pull the leaves of the trees.
W:She got him round the middle small
W:And tripped him into the sea.
W:
W:Lie there, lie there, you dirty dog,
W:Lie there in place of me,
W:For six fair maids you've drowned here,
W:But the seventh you shall be.
W:
W:She got up on the milk-white steed,
W:By her side was the iron-grey;
W:She rode till she came to her father's gate
W:Three long hours before it was day.

X:106
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 3I42/?. Also in Sharp and Karpeles, I932, I,
O:p. 6(B). Sung by Mrs. Bishop, Clay County, Ky., July I6,
O:I909. Collected by Olive Dame Campbell. Text not included in Sharp's MSS.
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Ddor % Pentatonic ( -3 -7) Ionian/Mixolydian/Dorian [Pi 2]
G | A2 A d2 d | AAA G2 G | A2 A/B/ d2 d |
w:Pull off that silk, my pret-ty Pol-ly, Pull off that* silk, said
A3-A2 D/D/ | G2 G G2 G/G/ | A2 B/A/ G2 B |
w:he,* For* it is too fine and too cost-*ly To
A2 B/A/ G2 E | D2 E G2 B | A2 B/A/ G2 E | D3-D2 |]
w:rot in the brin-y, brin-y sea, To rot in the brin-y sea.
W:
W:Pull off that silk, my pretty Polly,
W:Pull off that silk, said he,
W:For it is too fine and too costly
W:To rot in the briny, briny sea,
W:To rot in the briny sea.
W:
W:Turn your back, sweet Willie, said she,
W:O turn your back unto me,
W:For you are too bad a rebel
W:For a naked woman to see.
W:
W:She picked him up in her arms so strong
W:And she threw him into the sea,
W:Saying: If you have drowned six kings' daughters here,
W:You may lay here in the room of me.
W:
W:Stretch out your hand, O pretty Polly,
W:Stretch out your hand for me,
W:. . . . . . . . .
W:And help me out of the sea . . .
W:
W:She picked up a rock and threw on him, saying:
W:Lay there, lay there, you dirty, dirty dog,
W:Lay there in the room of me.
W:You're none too good nor too costly
W:To rot in the briny, briny sea.
W:
W:Hush up, hush up, my pretty parrot,
W:Hush up, hush up, said she.
W:You shall have a golden cage with an ivory lid
W:Hung in the willow tree.

X:107
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:George Korson, "Pennsylvania Songs and Legends~ I949, pp. 30-32. Sung
O:by Mrs. Hannah Sayre, Washington County, Pa., I933. Recorded by Samuel P.
Bayard.
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:Gmix % Hexatonic ( -7) Ionian/Mixolydian (Bronson has M/D)
G | A/A/ B d d | B/B/ A G G |
w:He fol-lered me up, he fol-lered me down, He
A/A/ B d/d/ B | A2 z G | A B d d | B/A/ G c B/B/ |
w:fol-lered wher-ev-er I lay; I had no wings to fly* from him, Nor no
A > A G > E | D E G B/B/ | A > A G E | D2 z |]
w:tongue to tell him nay, nay, nay, Nor no tongue to tell him nay.
W:
W:He follered me up, he follered me down,
W:He follered wherever I lay;
W:I had no wings to fly from him,
W:Nor no tongue to tell him nay, nay, nay,
W:Nor no tongue to tell him nay.
W:
W:Take some of your father's beaten gold
W:Likewise of your mother's fee,
W:And send two of the steeds out of your father's stable
W:Where stands thirty and three, three, three,
W:Where stands thirty and three.
W:
W:She went and she took of her father's gold,
W:And some of her mother's fee,
W:And two steeds out of her father's stable
W:Where there stands thirty and three.
W:
W:She mounted onto the bony, bony black,
W:And him on the di-pole gray,
W:And they rode along through the merry green woods
W:Till they come to the banks of the sea.
W:
W:Light down, light down, my pretty Polin,
W:I've something to say to thee:
W:Six daughters of the king I've drownded here,
W:And the seventh you shall be.
W:
W:Take off, take off, that fine silk gown,
W:And hang it on the tree,
W:For it is too fine and too costly too
W:To rot in the salt water sea.
W:
W:And turn yourself three times around,
W:And gaze at the leaves on the tree,
W:For God never made sich a rascal as you
W:A naked woman to see.
W:
W:He turned hisself three times around,
W:To gaze at the leaves on the tree;
W:She picked him up so manfully-like,
W:And plunged him into the sea.
W:
W:Lie there, lie there, you false-hearted knight,
W:Lie there in the stead of me-
W:You've promised to take me to old Scotland,
W:And there you would marry of me.
W:
W:She jumped onto the bony, bony black,
W:And led the di-pole gray,
W:And she rode till she come to her father's own house,
W:Three long hours before it was day.
W:
W:Up bespoke the little parrot,
W:Where in his cage it lay,
W:Saying, Where are you going, my pretty Polin?
W:You're traveling so long before day.
W:
W:Hold your tongue, my pretty parrot,
W:Tell none of your tales (lies) on me;
W:Your cage shall be made of the yellow, beaten gold,
W:And hung on the green willow tree.
W:
W:Up bespoke the old man
W:Where in his room he lay,
W:Saying, What's the matter, my pretty parrot?
W:You're pratteling so long before day.
W:
W:The old cat come to my cage door,
W:And swore she would worry of me,
W:And I had to call on my pretty Polin
W:To drive the bold pussy cat away, -way, -way,
W:To drive the bold pussy cat away!

X:108
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 426I/. Sung by Mrs. Elizabeth M. Berry,
O:Nellysford, Va., May 2I, I908.
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
G | A B d d | A/B/ A G G |
w:Come sit you down, my pret-ty Pol-ly, Come
A A/B/ d B | A3 G | A A/B/ d d |
w:sit you* down by me; I'm all to* talk to
A/B/ A G A/B/ | A > B G E | D E G B |
w:you,* you, you, I'm* all to talk to you, you, you, I'm
A > B G E | D3 B | A > B G G/E/ |
w:all to talk to you. I'm all to talk to*
G A/E/ G B | A > B G E | D3 |]
w:you, you,* you, I'm all to talk to you.
W:
W:Come sit you down, my pretty Polly,
W:Come sit you down by me;
W:I'm all to talk to you, you, you,
W:I'm all to talk to you, you, you,
W:I'm all to talk to you.
W:I'm all to talk to you, you, you,
W:I'm all to talk to you.

X:109
T:Six Kings Daughters
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Loraine Wyman and Howard Brockway, "Lonesome Tunes", [I9I6], pp. 82-87. Sung
O:in Letcher and Estill Counties, Ky.
M:3/4
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
G AB | d3 d/d/ B/B/ A | G2 > G2 AB |
w:"Get up, get up, pret-ty Pol-ly," he says And go a-
[M:2/4] d2 > B2 | A2 z B, | DE/E/ GG | A/B/A G B |
w:long with me, I'll take you a-way to New* Scot-land And
AA G/G/E | DE G B | A/B/A G/G/E | D2-D |]
w:there we'll mar-ry and stay.__ And there* we'll mar-ry and stay.
W:
W:"Get up, get up, pretty Polly," he says
W:"And go along with me,
W:I'll take you away to New Scotland
W:And there we'll marry and stay."
W:
W:She stole fifty pounds of her father's gold
W:And besides her mother's fee
W:And two of the horses in the stall
W:Where there were thirty and three.
W:
W:She bound herself on the bonny, bonny black
W:And him on the tabbit bay,
W:They rode 'til they came to the high sea-side
W:One hour before it was day.
W:
W:"Light down, light down, pretty Polly," he says,
W:"Light down, light down with me,
W:This is the place I've drowned six
W:And you the seventh shall be."
W:
W:"Pull off, pull off, that costly gown
W:And lay it by yonders tree
W:It never shall be said such costly wear
W:Shall rot in the salt water sea."
W:
W:"O turn yourself all around and about
W:Your face toward the sea,
W:It never shall be said such a rascal as you
W:A naked lady for to see."
W:
W:He turned himself all around and about
W:And his face toward the sea
W:And with her little white tender arms
W:She shoved him into the sea.
W:
W:"Lie there, lie there, you false-hearted man
W:Lie there instead of me,
W:If this be the place you drowned six
W:The seventh you shall be."
W:
W:She bound herself on the bonny, bonny black
W:And she led the tabbit bay,
W:She rode 'til she came to her father's house
W:One hour before it was day.
W:
W:Up speaks, up speaks that pretty parrot bird
W:In her cagc where she be,
W:"What's the matter, what's the matter with my pretty Polly
W:She's up so long before day."
W:
W:"Hush up, hush up, pretty parrot bird,
W:Tell none of your tales on me;
W:Your cage shall be made of the yellow beaten gold
W:And your doors of ivory."
W:
W:"What's the matter what's the matter pretty Polly" he said
W:"What's the matter what's the matter with thee?
W:I thought you had gone to New Scotland
W:And there for to marry and stay."

X:110
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 3I97/2341. Also in Sharp and Karpeles, I932,
O:I, p. s(A). Sung by Mrs. Mary Sands, Allanstand, N.C., August 2, I9I6.
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
G | A B d d | B A/G/ G G |
A B d B | A3 G/G/ | A B Hd3 A/ |
B A G B | HA B/A/ G E/E/ | D E G B |
"(a)"HA B/A/ G E/E/ | D3 |]
%"(a)" [M:3/2] A3 B/A/ G E/E/ |]
W:
W:Get down, get down, get down, says he,
W:Pull off that fine silk gown;
W:For it is too fine and costly
W:To rot in the salt-water sea, sea, sea,
W:To rot in the salt-water sea.
W:
W:Turn yourself all around and about
W:With your face turned toward the sea.
W:And she picked him up so manfully
W:And over'd him into the sea.
W:
W:Pray help me out, pray help me out,
W:Pray help me out, says he,
W:And I'll take you to the old Scotland
W:And there I will marry thee.
W:
W:Lie there, lie there,* you false-hearted knight,
W:Lie there instead of me,
W:For you stripped me as naked as ever I was born,
W:But I'll take nothing from thee.
W:
W:She jumped upon the milk-white steed
W:And she led the dapple grey,
W:And she rode back to her father's dwelling
W:Three long hours before day.
W:
W:*1932 omits the second "lie there."

X:111
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 322I/. Also in Sharp and Karpeles, I932, I,
O:p. 8(D). Sung by Mrs. Nancy E. Shelton, Carmen, N.C.,
O:August 8, T9I6.
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
G | A B d B | B A G G |
w:She mount-ed on the milk white steed And
A B d B | A3 G | A B d d/d/ | B A G B/B/ |
w:led the dapp-le grey And when she got to her fath-er's house It was
A B G E | D E G B/B/ | A B G E | D3 |]
w:one long hour till day till day It was one long hour till day
W:
W:She mounted on the milk white steed
W:And led the dapple grey
W:And when she got to her father's house
W:It was one long hour till day till day
W:It was one long hour till day
W:
W:It's hold your tongue my Pretty Polly
W:And tell no tales of me
W:And your cage shall be made of the beaten gold
W:And swing in the willow tree.

X:112
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 3250/. Sung by Mrs. R. Hensley, Carmen,
O:N.C., August II, I9I6.
N:Lyrics not given in Bronson
M:4/4
L:1/4
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
G | A A Hd A | B/B/ A/A/ G G |
A A d A | "*"B A2 G | A A Hd A |
"(a)"B A G B | A B/A/ G E | D E G B |
A B/A/ G E | D3 |]
%"(a)" B/A/ G/E/ G B ||
W:
W:* Sharp's MS. note: "This appoggiatura Mrs. H. called a 'warble.'"

X:113
T:The Outlandish Knight
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 3774/. Sung by Mrs. Maud Kilburn, Berea,
O:Ky., May 3I, I9I7.
M:3/2
L:1/4
K:G % could also be Ador
G | A A d3 e | c A G3 G |
w:Go bring to me your fath-er's gold And
[M:2/2] A A/A/ d d | A3 A/A/ | [M:3/2] B B A2-A/A/ G/E/ |
w:some of yr. broth-er's fee, And the two best hors-*es in your
D E F3 B | A3 B A/A/ E |
w:fath-er's stable Where now stands thir-ty and
D E G3 B | A3 B A/A/ E | D2-D2 z |]
w:three, three, three, Where now stands thir-ty and three.
W:
W:Go bring to me your father's gold
W:And some of yr. brother's fee,
W:And the two best horses in your father's stable (stall)
W:Where now stands thirty and three, three, three,
W:Where now stands thirty and three.

X:114
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 3777/. Sung by Mrs. Townsley and Mrs. Wilson,
O:Pineville, Ky., June 2, I9I7.
M:2/2
L:1/4
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
G | A A/B/ d d | B A/G/ G G |
w:O go and* steal your fath-er's* gold, And
A A/ B/ d d/B/ | A3 G/G/ | "(a)" A A/B/ d d/d/ | "(b)"B A/G/ G/A/ B |
w:part of your moth-er's* fee; And we'll get on the hors-es and ride to the
Squire's* And
A B G E | D E G B | A B G E | D3 |]
w:mar-ried we will be, be, be, And mar-ried we will be.
%"(a)" A A/B/ d e/d/ || "(b)" B A/G/ G A/B/ ||
W:
W:O go and steal your father's gold,
W:And part of your mother's fee;
W:And we'll get on the horses and ride to the Squire's
W:And married we will be, be, be,
W:And married we will be.

X:115
T:Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight
C:Trad
B:Bronson
O:Sharp MSS., 43I9/3085-86. Sung by Mrs. Bowyer,
O:Villamont, Bedford County, Va., June 4, I9I8.
M:C|
L:1/8
K:Gmix % Pentatonic ( -4 -7) Lydian/Ionian/Mixolydian [Pi 1]
G2 | A2 BB d2 d2 | B2 AB G2 G2 |
w:He fol-lowed her up, he fol-lowed her down, He
A/A/A AB d2 BB | A6 G2 | A2 AB d2 dd |
w:fol-lowed her to the room where she lay. She had not the pow-er to
B2 AA G2 BB | A2 AB G2 E2 | D6 |]
w:flee from his arms, Nor the tongue to* an-swer Nay.
W:
W:He followed her up, he followed her down,
W:He followed her to the room where she lay.
W:She had not the power to flee from his arms,
W:Nor the tongue to answer Nay.
W:
W:She got on her little pony brown,
W:And he got on his grey.
W:They rode till they came to the broad water side,
W:The length of a long summer day.
W:
W:Get down, get down, my pretty little Miss,
W:Get down, get down, these words I say,
W:For there's nine kings' daughters I've drownded here,
W:And you the tenth shall be.
W:
W:Pull off, pull off that fine silken gown,
W:And lay it on yonders stone,
W:For it's cost your father too much money
W:To rot in the salt sea foam.
W:
W:Pull off, pull off your silken veil
W:And lay it on yonders stone,
W:For it's cost your father too much money
W:To rot in the salt sea foam.
W:
W:Turn yourself around and about,
W:Your face to the leaves of the trees,
W:For I don't think that any such a wretch,
W:A nice a-lady might see.
W:
W:He turned himself around and about,
W:His face to the leaves of the trees.
W:She gave him a plunge, she plunged him in
W:To lie in the salt water sea.
W:
W:O hand me down your soft silken hands,
W:O hand them down to me,
W:O hand me down your soft silken hands,
W:And married we will be.
W:
W:O no, O no, you false-hearted man,
W:It's lie there instead of poor me.
W:It's nine kings' daughters are drownded here,
W:And you the last shall be.
W:
W:She got on her little pony brown,
W:She led the dapple grey;
W:She rode till she came to her father's gate,
W:It were not two hours before day.
W:
W:Where have you been, my pretty little Miss?
W:Where have you been? I say.
W:Where have you been, my pretty little Miss,
W:So long before day?
W:
W:O hush, O hush, my pretty little parrot,
W:Don't tell no tales on me.
W:Your cage shall be made of yellow beaten gold
W:And hung in yonders willow tree.