The Bishop of Canterbury- Ford (CA) 1938
[This was learned by Ford from his mother in Wisconsin. See below Bronson's liner-notes from 'Child Ballads Traditional in the United States' Vol. 1. [Listen to Warde Ford: The Bishop of Canterbury]
KING JOHN AND THE BISHOP (Child No. 45).
A5 [(a) "The Bishop of Canterbury." Sung by Warde B. Ford at Central. Valley, California, 1938. Recorded by Sidney Robertson Cowell.] [Listen to Warde Ford: The Bishop of Canterbury]
Half-a-dozen of the ballads in Child's collection turn on the setting riddles to be answered either on pain of heavy forfeit or in hope of high reward. The story suggested in the present one exists in many shapes, both oriental and occidental, and can be followed back to the early Middle Ages. The English ballad has been long a favorite and has been well preserved, thanks partly to its appearance in printed broadsides from the seventeenth century onward. But it is not common in the United States. The fine copy here recorded probably went West from the loggers of the Maine Woods to Wisconsin, whence it was brought to California by the present singer when he came to work on the great Shasta Dam. He learned it and other Child ballads from his mother, in Crandon, Wisconsin.
1. A story, a story, a story anon
I'll tell unto thee concerning King John
He had a great mind for to make himself merry
So he called for the Bishop of Canterbury
Lolli-doll-lay, Lolli-doll-luddy-tri-ol-de-dum-day.
2. Good morning, good morning, the old king did say
I've called you to ask you questions three
And if you don't answer them all right
Your head shall be taken from your body quite.
Lolli-doll-lay, Lolli-doll-luddy-tri-ol-de-dum-day.
3. My first question is, and that without doubt
How long I'll be travelling this whole world about
And the next question is when I sit in state
With my gold crown upon my pate
And all the nobility join in great mirth
You must tell to one penny just what I am worth.
Lolli-doll-lay, Lolli-doll-luddy-tri-ol-de-dum-day.
4. And the last question is and when I do wink
You must tell to me presently, what I do think
Lolli-doll-lay, Lolli-doll-luddy-tri-ol-de-dum-day.
5. As the old bishop was returning home
He met his young shepherd and him all alone
Good morning, good morning, the young man did say,
What news do you bring from the old King today?
Lolli-doll-lay, Lolli-doll-luddy-tri-ol-de-dum-day.
6. O very bad news, the old bishop did say,
The King has asked me questions three -
And if I don't answer them all right,
My head shall be taken from ay body quite.
Lolli-doll-lay, Lolli-doll-luddy-tri-ol-de-dua-day.
7. Well, I'm sorry a man of such learning as thee
Can't go back aad answer the king's questions three
But_if you will lend ae a suit of apparel
I'll go to King John and settle the quarrel.
Lolli-doll-lay, Lolli-doll-luddy-tri-ol-de-dua-day.
8. A suit of apparel I freely will give
And ten thousand pounds as sure as you live
And now the young shepherd has gone to King John
To settle the quarrel that he had begun.
Lolli-doll-lay, Lolli-doll-luddy-tri-ol-de-dua-day.
9. Good morning, good morning, the young shepherd did say,
I've called to answer your questions three
Your first question is and that without doubt
How lone you'll be travelling this whole world about
If you start with the sun and you travel the same
In twenty-four hours you'll come back again.
Lolli-doll-lay, Lolli-doll-luddy-tri-ol-de-dua-day.
10. The next question is when you sit in state
With your gold crown'upon your pate
And all the nobility join in great (mirth)
I'm to tell to one penny just what you are worth.
Lolli-doll-lay, Lolli-doll-luddy-tri-ol-de-dua-day.
11. For thirty gold pieces our dear Lord was sold
By those old Jews so brazen and bold
And for twenty-aine pieces I think you'll just do
For I'm sure he was one piece better than you.
Lolli-doll-lay, Lolli-doll-luddy-tri-ol-de-dua-day.
12. The last question is and when you do wink
I'm to tell to you presently what you do think
And that I will do if 't will make your heart merry
You think, I'm the Bishop of CaDterbury.
Lolli-doll-lay, Lolli-doll-luddy-tri-ol-de-dua-day.
13. And that I am not as is very well known
I am his young shepherd and him all alone
Go tell the old bishop, go tell him for me
That his young shepherd has outwitted me.
Lolli-doll-lay, Lolli-doll-luddy-tri-ol-de-dua-day.