Young Johnstone
On Autumn Harvest AH 004
Old Songs & Bothy Ballads - Some Rants o Fun
Ellen Mitchell sings:
This rare old ballad (Child 88) has survived in the song tradition of the Scottish traveller family of Johnstones. It has been collected from several members of the family since the 1960s - Duncan Johnstone of Birnam in 1967 when in his 80s, his niece Margaret Johnstone recorded in Fife in 1968, another niece Betsy White (nee Johnstone) author of two books about Scottish traveller life The Yellow on the Broom and Red Rowans and Wild Honey and also from Betsy's sister in Australia.
1: Johnston and the Young Cornel,
Sat drinkin high at wine;
"O I will marry your sister,
If you will marry mine."
2: "O no, O no," said the Young Cornel,
"Such a thing can never be;
I'll keep her as my house maiden,
As I come o'er the lea."
3: Now Johnston had a gey broadsword,
And a gey broadsword had he;
He reared it through the young Cornel,
Til a word he ne'er said mair.
4: He spurred his steed and swiftly rode,
Like lightnin o'er the lea;
Until he came til his sister's gates,
And he tirled at the pin.
5: "I dreamed a dream brother dear Johnston,
And I hope it's for your good,
They’re seekin ye wi hound and hawk,
And the young Cornel is dead."
6: "They're seekin me wi hound and hawk,
As I well expect they'll be;
For I have killed the young Cornel,
Your ain dear lover was he."
7: "Be gone, be gone ye bloody knight,
Be gone, be gone from me;
If ye have killed the young Cornel,
Ye'll be nae brother tae me."
8: He spurred his steed and swiftly rode,
Like lightnin o'er the lea;
Until he came tae his sweetheart's gates,
And he tirled at the pin.
9: "I dreamed a dream love dear Johnston,
And I hope it's for your good,
They're seekin ye with hound and hawk,
And the young Cornel is dead."
10: "O they're seekin me with hound and hawk,
As I well expect they'll be;
For I have killed the young Cornel,
Your ain dear brother was he."
11: "Come in, come in love dear Johnston,
Come in and take a rest;
For I care nae mair for the young Cornel,
If your ain dear bodie was safe."
12: He had scarcely landed up the stair;
Into the tower above;
When four an twenty stout belted knights,
Cam seekin him at the gate.
13: "O did ye see a bloody knight,
And a bloody knight was he?
Or did ye see a bloody knight,
Ride furiously ower the lea?"
14: "Alight, alight ye gentlemen,
And have some bread and wine;
If the steed be good that he rides upon,
He's across the bridge o Tyne."
15: "I thank you lady for your bread,
And thank you for your wine;
But I'd give thrice one hundred pounds,
If your ain fair body was mine."
16: Now Johnston had a gey broadsword,
And a gey broadsword had he;
He reared it through the lady's heart,
Til she droppit on the floor.
17: "What ails thee now love dear Johnston,
What ails thee now with me?
Didn't I give you all my father's land,
And all my mother's fee."
18: "O live, o live lady Margaret," he says,
Even for one half an hour."
"How can I live when my very heart's blood,
Is sprinkling on the floor?"
19: Noo Johnston had a gey broadsword,
And a gey broadsword had he;
And he reared it through his ain false heart,
And joined his fair lady.
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c p 2007 Autumn Harvest AH004
www.springthyme.co.uk
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