Shepherd's Laddie- Gilkie (NS) 1949 Creighton REC
[My title. From Creighton and Senior, TRaditional Songs from Nova Scotia; 1949. LOC recording 1409, made on September 19, 1949.
R. Matteson 2015]
[Shepherd's Laddie] The Baffled Knight -Sung by William, Gilkie, Sambro, Halifax County, NS. LOC recording 1409, September 19, 1949. Melody transcribed by Margaret Sargent.
1. It's of a shepherd's laddie kept sheep on yon-der hill
He laid his pipe and crook aside and there he slept his fill,
Singing, Fall the dey diddle I, diddle I,
Fall the dey diddle I, diddle I earo
Fall the dey diddle earo diddle dey,
Right the fall dey, diddle earo.
2. It's there he spied a pretty fair maid
A-swimming in the brook,
It would have been far more fitter for ladies
To sew a silken seam
And leave it all for gentlemen
To stroll against the stream. Chorus
3. It's "You don't catch my mantle sir
And leave my clothes alone.
I'll give you as much gold kind sir
As you can carry home." Chorus
4. "I won't touch Your mantle ma'am
And I'll leave Your clothes alone,
I'll take you from the clear fresh water
This day to be my own." Chorus
5. He took her by the lily white hand
And he led her up the rock
Says he, "my dear put on your shirt
To hide those comely charms. " Chorus
6. He mounted her on a milk white steed,
Himself upon another,
And the both of them rode along the road
Like sister and like brother. Cho.
7. As they were going through the bush
She spied some rooks on high,
Saying, "Yonder is a bonny place
For you and I to lie. " Cho.
8. They both then rode along together
Till they came to her father's cot,
There was none so ready as her father's porter
To let this pretty maid in. Cho.
9. It's, "I'm a maid within," says she,
"And you're a fool without,
So stand you there you silly sheep
And whistle on your thumb."
10. It's, "Don't you remind kind sir
When coming through the rye
It's might had you to kiss me there
What would I a-done but cry?" Cho.
11. "You're like a cock my father had
Who wore a devilled comb,
He could flap his wings but couldn't crow
And you think you're just the same." Cho.
12. "You're like a horse my father had
Who toddled at the Pin,
He hung his head above the malt
But was afraid to venture in." Cho.
13. It's "I'll pull off my shoes and shod
And let my feet gang bare,
And if I should meet another fair maid
Dang me if I'll let her spare clear." Cho.