Songs from the Caravan (Lyrics)
Pretty Little Sarah
Pretty little Sarah was sweeping up the hall
Had to move her apron-strings to make a bit of room
Her master he came to her and unto her did say
"What is that that you've got underneath your apron?"
"Oh, nothing sir, oh nothing, oh nothing sir" said she,
"Nothing but a muslin gown me mummy made for me,
I had nowhere to put it to keep it nice and clean
So I tucked it snugly underneath me apron"
A few months later a baby boy was born
Born without a father, without a home at all
Her master he came to her and unto her did say
"Now I know what you had underneath your apron.
"oh was it by a tinker, or was it by a clown,
Was it by a soldier boy who fights for England's crown?"
"Oh, no it was by a sailor boy who storms the raging Main
And he raised his Union Jack beneath me apron."
"Oh, was it in the kitchen or was it in the hall?
Was it in the parlour or in the house at all?"
"Oh, no, it was in the garden, up against the wall
Where he raised his Union Jack beneath me apron."
So come all you local ladies, this warning take by me,
Never let a sailor boy an inch above your knee
For if you do you'll rue the day he left you in the lurch
And raised his Union Jack beneath your apron.
King of the Gypsies
Me father's the king of the Gypsies, it's true
Me mother she learned me some camping for to do
With me pack all on me back all my friends they wished me well
And I went up to London Town some fortunes for to tell.
As I was a-walking through fair London's streets
A wealthy young squire, the first I chanced to meet
He viewed my brown cheeks and he liked them so well
Says he, "Me little Gypsy girl can you me fortune tell?"
"Oh," replied the Gypsy girl, "Come give to me your hand,
‘Tis you that has good riches, both houses and good land,
The fairer girls are dainty, ah, but you must pass them by
For it is the little Gypsy girl that is to be your bride."
He took me to his palace, there was carpets on the floor,
And servants there a-waiting to open every door
There was ladies there of honour, and the music it did play
And all were there to celebrate the Gypsy's wedding day.
So it's farewell to the Gypsy world and a-camping on the green
No more with me brothers nor me sisters I'll be seen
For I was a Gypsy girl, ah but now I'm a squire's bride
With servants for to wait on me and in me carriage ride.
The Squire and the Gypsy
One spring morning early a young squire was straying
Over the beauty that nature gave birth
The old ones were blown far, the young ones were playing
And there he beheld such a dark Gypsy lass
Struck with such beauty, he seemed most delighted
He forgot his descending and family pride
But let her be what she may, either wealthy or lowly
He swore by the heaven he would make her his bride.
Now here's to your horses, your carriage and splendours
Here's to your horses in green wooded dells
Behind the camp-fire two bright eyes were shining
And that's where he first saw his own Gypsy girl
Stay with me now, in a few months I'll marry you
The smoke shall be your descending and shall be your guide
May I tell your fortune? My dearie, I know it
The fortune I crave for is you for my bride.
Do you wish to insult me by your grand proposal?
Do you wish a poor girl in misery be seen?
Through dirt and through mires and I am light-hearted
You may ride on my mead that stands on the green
I'm a poor Gypsy girl and you are a squire
With wealth and great beauty it is your command
And there's more honest such in the poor and the lowly
Than all those proud ladies that walks through our land
Oko Vela O Chavo
Oko vela o chavo
Kon chindilo petalo
Chindyas shee miro chavlo
Drey I barri kertsheema
O bawley choresko vela
Top pes kosh tenengo gry
Lesk' doodah ‘ree leski po-chee
Topler shero gooii sheelo
Oko vela a chavo
Kon petalo chindilo
Chindyas shee miro chavlo
Drey I barri kertsheema
Lord Bateman
Lord Bateman was a noble lord
A noble lord of high degree
He shipped himself all upon a great ship
Some foreign country all for to see
He sailéd east, he sailéd west
He sailéd unto proud Turkey
Where he was taken and put in prison
Until his life it was quite weary
And in this prison there grew a tree
It grew so stout, it grew so strong
They chained him all around its middle
Until his life it was almost gone
This Turk he had one only daughter
The fairest creature you e'er did see
She stole the keys to her father's prison
And swore Lord Bateman she would set free
"Oh, have you lands and have you livings
And doth Northumberland belong to thee?
What would you give to a fair young lady
If out of prison she'd set you free?"
"Oh, I have lands and I have livings
And half Northumberland belongs to me
I would give them all to that fair young lady
If out of prison she'd set me free."
She took him to her father's cellar
And gave to him the best of wine
And every toast that she drank unto him
"I wish Lord Bateman that you were mine.
For seven long years we'll make a vow
We'll make it safe, we'll make it strong
That you will wed with no other woman
And I will wed with no other man."
She took him to her father's harbour
And gave to him a ship of fame
"Farewell, farewell to you Lord Bateman
I fear I never shall see you again."
When seven years were past and gone
And fourteen days well known to me
She packéd up all her gay good clothing
And swore Lord Bateman she would go and see.
And when she came to Lord Bateman's castle
So loudly rang she at the bell.
"Who's there, who's there?" cried the proud young porter
"Who's there, who's there, pray do me tell."
"Oh, is this Lord Bateman's castle
And is Lord Bateman here within?"
"Oh yes, oh, yes," cries the proud young porter
"He has just taken his young bride in."
"Go bid him fetch me a slice of bread
And a bottle of the best of wine
Not forgetting that fair young maiden
Who did release him when close confined."
Away, away ran that proud young porter,
Away away, away ran he
Until he came to Lord Bateman's chamber,
Upon his bended knee fell he.
"What news, what news my proud young porter
What news what news pray tell to me?"
There is the fairest of all young ladies
That ever my two eyes did see.
She has got rings on every finger
On one of them she has got three
She has gold enough all around her middle
To buy Northumberland that belongs to thee.
She bids you fetch her a slice of bread
And a bottle of the best of wine
Not forgetting that fair young lady
That did release you when close confined."
Lord Bateman flew into a passion
And broke his sword in splinters three
"I will give half of my father's portion
If but Sophia has crossed the sea."
Then up and spoke the young bride's mother
Was never heard to make so free
"You'll not forget my only daughter
If but Sophia has crossed the sea."
"I own I made a bride of your daughter
She's neither the better nor the worse for me
She came to me on a horse and saddle
She shall go home in a coach and three."
Lord Bateman's ordered another wedding
And both their hearts were filled with glee
"I will rove no more in no foreign country
Now that Sophia has crossed the sea,
Now that Sophia has returned to me."
Chinese Maiden's Lament
Me no likee English sailor
When Yankee sailor come ashore
English sailor plenty money
Yankee sailor plenty more
Yankee sailor call me ducky darling
English sailor call me Chinese whore
Yankee sailor only do it one time
English sailor do it evermore
So me no likee English sailor
When Yankee sailor come ashore
English sailor plenty money
Yankee sailor plenty more
Yankee sailor call me ducky darling
English sailor call me Chinese whore
Yankee sailor only do it one time
English sailor do it evermore
Raggle Taggle Gypsies
Three Gypsies stood at the castle gate
They sang so high, sang so low
And the lady's sat at her chamber late
And her heart it did melt away like snow
They sang so sweet, they sang so clear
That fast her tears began to flow
And it's down she's thrown her golden gown
To go with the raggle-taggle Gypsies
And it's off she's cast her high-heeled shoes,
Made of Spanish leather-o
And around her shoulder a blanket she's thrown
To go with the raggle-taggle Gypsies
Oh, it's late that night when her lord came home
Enquiring for his lady-o
But the serving girl made this reply
"She's gone with the raggle-taggle Gypsies"
"Oh, then saddle to me my milk-white steed,
Bridle for me my pony-o
That I may ride to seek my bride
Who's gone with the raggle-taggle Gypsies"
Oh, then he's rode north, he's rode south,
Rode through the bushes and the briars-o
Until he's come to the broad green field
And there he spied his lady
"Oh, what makes you leave your house and lands
What makes you lerave your money-o
And what makes you leave your new-wedded lord
To go with the raggle-taggle Gypsies?"
"Oh, and what care I for house and land?
What care I for money-o?
What care I for my new-wedded lord?
I'll go with the raggle-taggle Gypsies
Oh, but last night you slept in a goose-feather bed
The sheets turned down so bravely-o
But tonight you will sleep in the cold open fields
Along with the raggle-taggle Gypsies"
"Oh, and what care I for a goose-feather bed,
The sheets turned down so bravely-o
For tonight I will sleep in the cold open fields
Along with the raggle-taggle Gypsies."
Three Gypsies stood at the castle gate
They sang so high, sang so low
And the lady's sat at her chamber late
And her heart it did melt away as snow
Roving Journeyman - Atching Song
I am a roving journeyman, I roam from town to town
And when I get a job of work, I'm willing to sit down
With me bundle over me shoulder and me stick all in my hand
And it's round the country I will go, I'm a roving journeyman.
When it is raining
The first thing in mind
Is tent-rods and ridge-poles
And kittle-cranes to find.
Now when I get to Brighton town, the girls they jump for joy
Saying one unto the other: O there comes a roving boy
One hands to me the bottle and the other the glass in my hand
And the toast goes round the table, "Here's good luck to the journeyman"
When it is raining....
They took me to a big hotel, twas there to spend the night
The landlord's wife and daughter, twas me their great delight,
She never took her eyes off me while on the floor I'd stand
And she shouted to her mother, "Ma!!! I ‘m in love with the journey man!"
When it is raining....
It's now that we are married and we're settled down for life
As happy as two turtle doves meself and me little wife
I'll work for her, I'll toil for her, I'll do the best I can
She'll never say that she rued the day that she married the journeyman.
When it is raining....
I cannot think the reason why my love she looks so sly
I never had any false heart to any young female kind
I never had any false heart to any young female kind
But I always went a roaming for to leave my love behind
When it is raining....
The Red Barn Murder
Come all you thoughtless men, a warning take by me
And think of my unhappy fate, to be hanged upon a tree
My name is William Corder, to you I do declare,
I courted Maria Marten, most beautiful and fair.
I promised I would marry her upon a certain day,
Instead of that, I was resolved to take her life away.
I went into her father's house the 18th day of May,
Saying, my dear Maria, we will fix the wedding day.
If you will meet me at the Red barn, as sure as I have life,
I will take you to Ipswich town, and there make you my wife;
I then went home and fetched my gun, my pickaxe and my spade,
I went into the Red-barn, and there I dug her grave.
With heart so light, she thought no harm, to meet me she did go,
I murdered her all in the barn, and laid her body low;
After the horrid deed was done, she lay weltering in her gore,
Her bleeding mangled body I buried, under the Red-barn floor.
Now all things being silent, her spirit could not rest,
She appeared unto her mother, who suckled her at her breast;
For many a long month or more, her mind being sore oppress'd,
Neither night nor day she could not take any rest.
Her mother's mind being so disturbed, she dreamt three nights o'er,
Her daughter she lay murdered, beneath the Red-barn floor;
She sent the father to the barn, when he the ground did thrust,
And there he found his daughter a-mingling with the dust.
My trial is hard, I could not stand, most woeful was the sight,
When her jaw-bone was brought to prove, which pierced my heart quite;
Her aged father standing by, likewise his loving wife,
And in her grief her hair she tore, she scarcely could keep life.
Adieu, adieu, my loving friends, my glass is almost run,
On Monday next will be my last, when I am to be hang'd;
So you young men who do pass by, with pity look on me.
for murdering Maria Marten I was hang'd upon the tree.
Lost Lady Found
Down in a valley a damsel did dwell
She lived with her uncle we all know full well
Down in a valley where violets grew gay
Three Gypsies betrayed her and stole her away
Long time she'd been missing but could not be found
Her uncle, he searchéd the country around,
Till he came to the trustees, between hope and fear,
The trustees made answer, "She has not been here."
Now the trustees spake up with their courage so bold,
"We'll see she's nost lost for the sake of her gold,
We will have life for life now" the trustees did say,
"We'll put you to prison, and there you shall lay."
Now there was a young squire who lovéd her so,
Oft times to the schoolhouse together would go,
"I'm afraid she's been murdered, so great is my fear.
If I'd wings like a dove I would fly to my dear."
Now, he's travelled through England, through France and through Spain,
He ventured his life on the watery main,
Till he came to a house where he lodgéd the night,
And in that same house was his own heart's delight.
Now as soon as she saw him, she flew in his arms;
She told him her grief whilst he gazed on her charms.
"How came you to Dublin, in Dublin, my dear?"
"Three gypsies they stole me and then brought me here."
"Now your uncle in England in prison do lie,
He's now for your sweet sake condemnéd to die."
"Oh, take me to England, to England," she cried.
"Ten thousand I'll give you, and then be your bride."
Now when they came to England her uncle to see,
The cart it stood under the high gallows tree;
"Oh, pardon, oh, pardon, oh, pardon," she craved,
You can see I'm alive, his dear life to save."
Now as soon as they heard her they led him away,
And the drums they did beat and the musics did play,
Every house in the valley with mirth did resound,
As soon as they heard that lost lady was found.
The Maid and the Miller - The Miller He Put His Hand on Her Toe
A pretty little maid so neat and gay
To the mill she went one day
A bag of corn she had to grind
But there no miller could she find
Tiddy-fol, tiddy-fol, tiddy-fol-the-day
Right fol-lol, the tiddy fol-the-day
At last the miller he came in
And to him she did begin
"Come grind my corn so quickly,
Around your stones my corn must fly"
"Come sit you down," the miller did say
"For I cannot grind your corn today
For my stones is high and my water's low
And I cannot grind, ‘cos the mill it will not go."
So this young couple sat down to chat
They talked of this and they talked of that
They talked of things that you do know
And she very soon found that his mill would go
Then says she, "Mr. miller man,
You grinds all flour and you grinds no bran"
So it's easy up and it's easy down
She could hardly feel that her corn was being ground
Then she said, "Well I'd better make my best way home.
If my mother asks me why I've been so long
I'll say I've been ground by a score or more
But I've never been ground so well before
The miller he put his hand on her toe (knee, waist, breasts,......., head)
What D'you call this, me dearie
Oh, this is me toe and it's in me shoe sole
It's all me own territory
I'm the maid of the mill and the mill grinds well
Me and my Dawg
I've got me a dawg, yes and a good dawg too
I holds her in my keeping
Me and my dawg we goes out at night
While them gamekeepers lie sleeping
One night me and my old dawg did go
For to get some education
Up jumps a hare and away did run
Right into the old plantation
She had not run nobbut very far
My dawg she stops her running
"Oh, help me, help me" the hare did cry
"Wait a minute while the boss he's a-coming"
Well then I did get out me old penknife
And then and there I did paunch her
She turned out one of the female kind
How glad I am I've caught her.
I picks her up, then I smooths her down
I holds her in my keeping
I says to me dawg, "Well, it's time to be a-going
While them gamekeepers lie sleeping"
Away then me and my old dawg did go
Right down into the town
I took that hare to a neighbour's house
And I sold it for one crown.
Then we went into a public house
And bought some ale quite mellow
I spent that crown, aye, and another one too
Don't you think I'm a stout-hearted fellow
I've got this dawg you see and a good dawg too
I holds her in my keeping
Me and me dawg we goes out at night
While them gamekeepers lie sleeping.
John Barleycorn
There were three men came out of the West
Their fortunes for to try
And these three men they made a vow
John Barleycorn should die
They ploughed, they sowed, they harrowed him in
Poured clods upon his head
And these three men they made a vow
John Barleycorn was dead
Then they let him lie for a very long time
Till the rain from heaven did fall
And little Sir John he raised up his head
And he soon did amaze them all
They let him lie till midsummer's day
Till he looked both pale and wan
Then little Sir John he grew a long beard
And so became a man.
They hiréd men with the scythes so sharp
To cut him off at the knee
They rolled him and bound him by the waist
And served him most barbarously
They hiréd men with the sharp pitchforks
To pierce him to the heart
And the loader he served him worse than that
‘Cos he bound him to the cart
Then they wheeled him and wheeled him around a field
Until they came unto a barn
And there they made a most solemn mow
Of poor little John Barleycorn
They hiréd men with the crab-tree sticks
To cut him skin from bone
And the miller he served him worse than that
‘Cos he ground him between two stones.
Here's little Sir John in the nut-brown bowl
And brandy in a glass
And little Sir John in the nut-brown bowl
Proved the stronger man at last
And the huntsman he can't hunt the fox
Nor so loudly blow his horn
And the tinker he can't mend his kettles or pots
Without a little bit of barleycorn.