The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

BALLAD

I ONCE KNEW A LORD BY THE NORTHERN SEA. BOW DOWN, BOW DOWN.
I ONCE KNEW A LORD BY THE NORTHERN SEA,
BOW AND BALANCE TO ME.
I ONCE KNEW A LORD BY THE NORTHERN SEA,
HE HAD DAUGHTERS - ONE, TWO, THREE.
I WILL BE TRUE, TRUE TO MY LOVE,
LOVE AND MY LOVE WILL BE TRUE TO ME.
A YOUNG PRINCE CAME A COURTING THERE. BOW DOWN, BOW DOWN.
A YOUNG PRINCE CAME A COURTING THERE,
BOW AND BALANCE TO ME.
A YOUNG PRINCE CAME A COURTING THERE,
HE CHOSE THE YOUNG, HE CHOSE THE FAIR
I WILL BE TRUE, TRUE TO MY LOVE,
LOVE AND MY LOVE WILL BE TRUE TO ME.
HE GAVE HIS LOVE A BEAVER HAT. BOW DOWN, BOW DOWN.
HE GAVE HIS LOVE A BEAVER HAT,
BOW AND BALANCE TO ME.
HE GAVE HIS LOVE A BEAVER HAT,
THE UGLY TWO THOUGHT HORRID OF THAT.
I WILL BE TRUE, TRUE TO MY LOVE,
LOVE AND MY LOVE WILL BE TRUE TO ME.
HE GAVE HIS LOVE A GOLDEN RING. BOW DOWN, BOW DOWN.
HE GAVE HIS LOVE A GOLDEN RING,
BOW AND BALANCE TO ME.
HE GAVE HIS LOVE A GOLDEN RING,
THE UGLY TWO THOUGHT THAT A TERRIBLE THING.
I WILL BE TRUE, TRUE TO MY LOVE,
LOVE AND MY LOVE WILL BE TRUE TO ME.
THE THREE WALKED DOWN BY THE WATER'S RIM. BOW BOWN, BOW DOWN.
THE THREE WALKED DOWN BY THE WATER'S RIM,
BOW AND BALANCE TO ME.
THE THREE WALKED DOWN BY THE WATER'S RIM,
THE UGLY TWO PUSHED THE FAIR ONE IN.
I WILL BE TRUE, TRUE TO MY LOVE,
LOVE AND MY LOVE WILL BE TRUE TO ME.
SHE FLOATED DOWN WHERE THE MILLER SAT. BOW DOWN, BOW DOWN.
SHE FLOATED DOWN WHERE THE MILLER SAT,
BOW AND BALANCE TO ME.
SHE FLOATED DOWN WHERE THE MILLER SAT,
HE TOOK THE GOLD RING AND THE BEAVER HAT.
I WILL BE TRUE, TRUE TO MY LOVE,
LOVE AND MY LOVE WILL BE TRUE TO ME.
THE UGLY TWO THEY WERE BURNED AT THE STAKE. BOW DOWN, BOW DOWN.
THE UGLY TWO THEY WERE BURNED AT THE STAKE,
BOW AND BALANCE TO ME.
THE UGLY TWO THEY WERE BURNED AT THE STAKE,
THE MILLER WAS HANGED FOR WHAT HE DID TAKE.
I WILL BE TRUE, TRUE TO MY LOVE,
LOVE AND MY LOVE WILL BE TRUE TO ME.

Submitter comment: THIS BALLAD, A VARIATION OF "THE TWA SISTERS", WAS LEARNED
BY MR. CARAHER IN 1956 WHEN HE WORKED IN INTERLOCHEN, MICHIGAN
AT INTERLOCHEN'S MUSIC ACADEMY. LONG EVENINGS WERE SPENT
SINGING AND "LEARNING HOW TO DRINK BEER WITHOUT THROWING UP."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM