| Author | Topic: Add: The fair Flower of Northumberland | |
| dmcg | Posted - 03 Apr 04 - 01:51 pm | |
It was a knight, in Scotland born, Follow, my love, come over the strand, Was taken prisoner and left forlorn, Even by the good Earl of Northumberland. Then was he cast in prison strong Follow, my love, come over the strand, Where he could not walk nor lay along, Even by the good Earl of Northumberland. And as in sorrow thus he lay, Follow, my love, come over the strand, The Earl's sweet daughter passed that way, And she the fair flower of Northumberland. And passing by, like an angel bright, Follow, my love, come over the strand, The prisoner had of her a sight, And she the fair flower of Northumberland. And aloud to her this knight did cry, Follow, my love, come over the strand, The salt tears standing in her eye, And she the fair flower of Northumberland, "Fair lady," ho said, "take pity on me, Follow, my love, come over the strand, And let me not in prison dee, And you the fair flower of Northumberland." "Fair sir, how should I take pity on thee, Follow, my love, come over the strand, Thou being a foe to our countree, And I the fair flower of Northumberland." "Fair lady, I am no foe," he said, Follow, my love, come over the strand, "Through thy sweet love here was I stayed, And thou the fair flower of Northumberland." "Why should'st thou come here for love of me, Follow, my love, come over the strand, Having wife and bairns im thy own countree, And I the fair flower of Northumberland. "I swear by the blessed Trinity, Follow, my love, come over the strand, That neither wife nor bairns have I, And thou thou fair flower of Northumberland. "If courteously them wilt set me free, Follow, my love, come over the strand, I vow that I will marry thee, And thou the fair flower of Northumberland. "Thou shall be lady of castles and towers, Follow, my love, come over the strand, And sit like a queen in princely bowers, Even thou the fair flower of Northumberland." Then parted hence this lady gay, Follow, my love, come over the strand, And got her father's ring away, And she the fair flower of Northumberland. Likewise much gold got she by sleight, Follow, my love, come over the strand, And all to help this forlorn knight, And she the fair flower of Northumberland. Two gallant steeds, both good and able, Follow, my love, come over the strand, She likewise took out of the stable, And she the fair flower of Northumberland. And to the gaoler she sent the ring, Follow, my love, come over the strand, Who the knight from prison forth did bring, To meet the fair flower of Northumberland. This token set the prisoner free, Follow, my love, come over the strand, Who straight went to this fair lady, And she, the fair flower of Northumberland. A gallant steed he did bestride, Follow, my love, come over the strand, And with the lady away did ride, And she the fair flower of Northumberland. They rode till they came to a water clear; Follow, my love, come over the strand, "Good sir, how shall I follow you here, And I the fair flower of Northumberland ? "The water is rough and wonderful deep, Follow, my love, come over the strand, And on my saddle I shall not keep, And I the fair flower of Northumberland." "Fear not the ford, fair lady!" quoth he, Follow, my love, come over the strand, "For long I cannot stay for thee, Even thou the fair flower of Northumberland." The lady prickt her gallant steed, Follow, my love, come over the strand, And over the water swam with speed, Even she the fair flower of Northumberland. From top to toe all wet was she, Follow, my love, come over the strand, ?This have I done for love of thee, Even I the fair flower of Northumberland." Thus rode she all one winter's night, Follow, my love, come over the strand, Till Edinborough they saw in sight? The fairest town in all Scotland. "Now choose," quoth he, "thou wanton flower; Follow, my love, come over the strand, If thou wilt be my paramour, And thou the fair flower of Northumberland. " For I have a wife and children five, Follow, my love, come over the strand, In Edinborough they be alive, And thou the fair flower of Northumberland. "And if thou wilt not give thy hand, Follow, my love, come over the strand, Then got thee home to fair England, And thou the fair flower of Northumberland. "This favour thou shalt have to boot? Follow, my love, come over the strand, I'll have thy horse; go thou on foot, And thou the fair flower of Northumberland." "O false and faithless knight," quoth she : Follow, my love, come over the strand, "And canst thou deal so bad with me, And I the fair flower of Northumberland ? ?Dishonour not a lady's name, Follow, my love, come over the strand, But draw thy sword and end my shame, And I the fair flower of Northumberland." He took her from her stately steed, Follow, my love, come over the strand, And left her there in extreme need, And she the fair flower of Northumberland. Then sat she down full heavily, Follow, my love, come over the strand, At length two knights came riding by, And she the fair flower of Northumberland. Two gallant knights of fair England, Follow, my love, come over the strand, And there they found her on the strand Even she the fair flower of Northumberland. She fell down humbly on her knee, Follow, my love, come over the strand, Crying, "Courteous knights take pity on me, Even I the fair flower of Northumberland. "I have offended my father dear, Follow, my love, come over the strand, For a false knight that brought me here, Even I the fair flower of Northumberland." They took her up beside them then, Follow, my love, come over the strand, And brought her to her father again, And she the fair flower of Northumberland. Now all you fair maids be warned by me, Follow no Scotchman over the strand ; Scots never were true, nor ever will be, To lord nor lady nor fair England. Source: Bruce and Stokoe, Northumbrian Minstrelsy, Newcastle-Upon Tyne, 1882 (reissued Llanerch) Notes: The editors of Northumbrian Mistrelsy wrote:
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| Jon Freeman | Posted - 03 Apr 04 - 02:50 pm | |
I like the Johnstons version of this which according to one web search goes: The provost's daughter was making her lane Oh but her love was easy won And she heard a Scots prisoner a making his mane And she's the fair flower of Northumberland "It's oh, gin the lassie would borrow a key" Oh but her love was easy won "And I'd make her a lady of high degree If she'd loose me out of this prison strang" Oh she's gane then tae her faither's bed stock Oh but her love was easy won And she's stolen the keys for many a braw lock And she's loosed him out of his prison strang As they were a riding across the Scot's moor He said, "Oh but her love was easy won Get doon frae my horse, you're a brazen faced whore Although you're the flower of Northumberland" "It's I hae a wife in my ain country Oh but her love was easy won And I cannae do nothing wi a lassie like thee So go get ye back tae Northumberland" "It's cook in my kitchen ye cannae well be Oh but her love was easy won For my lady, she winnae hae servants like thee So get ye back tae Northumberland" But laith was he the lassie tae tyne He said, " Oh but her love was easy won" So he's hired an old horse and he's feed an old man To carry her hame tae Northumberland But when she gaed in, her Faither did froon And said, " Oh but her love was easy won To be a Scot's whore and you're barely fifteen And you're the fair flower of Northumberland" But when she gaed in, her mither did smile And said, " Oh but her lovewas easy won You're nae the first that the Scots hae beguiled And you're still the fair flower of Northumberland" "For ye winnae want bread and ye winnae want wine Oh but her love was easy won And ye winnae want silver to buy an old man And you're still the fair flower of Northumberland" Child #9. | ||
| diane easby | Posted - 04 Apr 04 - 06:16 pm | |
This is how I learned it from the singing of Gordon McCulloch in the mid 1960s. It's similar but two verses longer that the one above so I'd imagine Paul Brady got it off Gordon too and cut it down. Jackie Oates has recently put together an excellent arrangement which follows these words almost exactly. The provost's aye daughter was making her lane Oh gin her love was easy won And she heard a Scots prisoner a-making his mane And she's the fair flower of Northumberland It's oh gin the lassie would borrow a key Oh gin her love was easy won And I'd make her a lady of high degree If she'd loose me out of this prison sae strang Oh she's gane then tae her faither's bed stock Oh gin her love was easy won And she's stolen the keys for many a braw lock And she's loosed him out of his prison strang Oh she's gane ben tae her faither's stable Oh gin her love was easy won And she's ta'en a horse that's both fleet and able To carry them ben tae bonnie Scotland As they were a riding across the Scot's moor He said, Oh but her love was easy won Get doon frae my horse, you're a brazen-faced whore Although you're the flower of Northumberland It's I hae a wife in my ain country Oh gin her love was easy won And I cannae do nothing wi a lassie like thee So go get ye back tae Northumberland It's cook in your kitchen I surely will be Oh gin her love was easy won And I'll serve your lady most reverently For I dare nae go back tae Northumberland It's cook in my kitchen ye cannae well be Oh gin her love was easy won For my lady, she winnae hae servants like thee So get ye back tae Northumberland But laith was he the lassie tae tyne He said, oh gin her love was easy won So he's hired an old horse and he's feed an old man To carry her hame tae Northumberland But when she gaed in, her faither did froon And said, oh gin her love was easy won To be a Scot's whore and you're only fifteen And you the fair flower of Northumberland But when she gaed in, her mither did smile And said, oh gin her love was easy won You're nae the first that the Scots hae beguiled And you're aye the fair flower of Northumberland For ye winnae want bread and ye winnae want wine Oh gin her love was easy won And ye winnae want silver to buy a man And you're aye the fair flower of Northumberland | ||
| Jon Freeman | Posted - 04 Apr 04 - 07:50 pm | |
Thanks Diane. It's persuaded me to dig the recording out. The Johnstons/ Brady(?) version differs slightly from the one you gave but does have all the verses you have given. My Internet search must have yielded a wrong result... As luck would have it as I tried to note things down my hi-fi decided to pack in! I suspect it did come from the same source but here are the bigger differences I noticed before things stopped working (grrrr). v2 L1 Marry be (borrow a key). v4 L3 Stolen a steed that was barely turned able. v7 L3 For I cannae gae home to my ain country v7 L4 Although I?m the flower of Northumberland Jon | ||
| fiona | Posted - 10 Jul 05 - 10:03 pm | |
I'd be very interested to know if anyone has any opinions on the meaning of the verse, 'For ye winnae want bread and ye winnae want wine Oh gin her love was easy won And ye winnae want silver to buy a man And you're aye the fair flower of Northumberland' It may be because of my Roman Catholic upbringing but I always thought the bread and wine referred to the sacrament of communion (and marriage) and that being 'sullied' she couldn't marry (that is, no one would have her) and as a consequence she wouldn't need a dowry. Fiona | ||
| Malcolm Douglas |
Posted - 10 Jul 05 - 10:50 pm | |
"Bread and wine" seems to be a relatively recent alteration of "gold and fee"; no religious connotation there. Essentially, the mother is just saying that the girl will not want (lack) a dowry, even though she has blotted her copybook rather. If you like, you can read also the implication that she won't want (be in need of) gold to buy a man in any case; she is still 'The Fair Flower of Northumberland', and that will be enough. | ||
| fiona | Posted - 11 Jul 05 - 08:13 am | |
Thank you Malcolm, that makes more sense of her mother smiling too! Fiona | ||
| Jim Irvine | Posted - 15 Jul 05 - 01:09 am | |
I've always liked the version as sung (I think?)by Dick Gaughan Flower o? Northumberland, The Oh! The provost's ae dochter was walking her lane Oh! But her love it was easy won When she spied a Scots prisoner makin' his mane An' she was the floo'er o' Northumberland 'And its Oh! Gin a lassie wad mairry me? Oh! But her love it was easy won 'I wad mak? her a lady o' high degree If she'd loose me oot o' my prison sae strang? It's she's done her doon tae her faither's bedroom Oh! But her love it was easy won And she's stolen the best keys there tae monys a brave lock Tae loose him oot o' his prison sae strang It's she's done her doon tae her faither's guid stable Oh! But her love it was easy won And she's stolen the best horse that was baith fleet and able For tae cairry them back intae bonnie Scotland But as they were riding across yon Scots muir He cried 'Oh! But yer love it was easy won. Get ye doon frae ma horse, ye'r a brazen faced whoor Although yer the floo'er o' Northumberland.' 'Oh! It's cook in ye'r kitchen I sarely will be Oh! But my love it was easy won. For I canna gae back tae ma ain country Although I?m the floo'er o' Northumberland.' 'Oh! It's cook in ma kitchen ye canna weel be Oh! But ye'r love it was easy won For ma lady she willnae hae servants like thee And ye'll need tae gae back tae Northumberland' 'For 'tis I hae a wife in my ain country Oh! But ye'r love it was easy won And I canna dae naethin' wi' a lassie like thee And ye'll need tae gae hame tae Northumberland' And sae laith was he yon lassie tae tine Oh! But her love it was easy won So he's hired an auld horse and he's hired an auld man For tae carry her back tae Northumberland An' it's when she got there her faither did frown 'Oh! But yer love it was easy won For tae gang wi' a Scotsman when ye'r barely sixteen Aye, an' ye were the floo'er o' Northumberland.' An' it's when she gaed ben her mither did smile and said 'Oh! But yer love it was easy won But you're no' the first that yon Scots hae beguiled And ye'r welcome back hame tae Northumberland' 'For ye winna want breid and ye winna want wine E'en though yer love it was easy won An' ye winna want silver tae buy a man wi' An' ye'r aye the fair floo'er o' Northumberland.' | ||
| Malcolm Douglas |
Posted - 15 Jul 05 - 03:38 am | |
That's not quite as Gaughan remembers it himself, but reasonably close. He learned it from Gordon MacCulloch (see Diane's post earlier); so not separate "versions" (in the traditional sense) but variant recorded arrangements of the same song. Where did Gordon get the song, incidentally? I'd guess at a print source (there aren't that many) rather than living tradition, but it would be nice to know. | ||
| Wayne Mitchell | Posted - 14 Aug 05 - 11:35 pm | |
The notes to Sara Grey's 1970 album for Folk-Legacy suggest that her version is learned from Dick Gaughan and "is very close to that found in Gavin Greig's /Last Leaves of Traditional Ballads and Ballad Airs/ (1925)." | ||
| masato sakurai | Posted - 15 Aug 05 - 01:12 am | |
Errata: M:6/8 %Meter | ||
| Jon Freeman | Posted - 15 Aug 05 - 01:20 am | |
Lost me there Maseto. Are you saying the database needs correcting? | ||
| masato sakurai | Posted - 15 Aug 05 - 02:05 am | |
Yes, Jon. The first note is D (not C), and E (to the syllable -thum-) should be doubled (E2). | ||
| Jon Freeman | Posted - 15 Aug 05 - 02:16 am | |
Thanks Masato but E2 to my late at night brain would give 7 beats? I have changed the C to D. Perhaps the rest (z) is too long? Edited By Jon Freeman - 15-Aug-2005 02:35:58 AM | ||
| masato sakurai | Posted - 15 Aug 05 - 05:48 am | |
Jon, the original score in Northumbrian Minstrelsy (Folklore Associates reprint) has no rest at the end. | ||
| Jon Freeman | Posted - 15 Aug 05 - 09:36 am | |
Thanks masato. I've corrected it, | ||
| dmcg | Posted - 15 Aug 05 - 01:09 pm | |
Thanks from here as well, masato. I must admit that I have had mild concern that while almost anyone can proof-read the lyrics and raise questions, proof-reading the music is more of a problem. | ||