Pre-1600: The False Knight Upon The Road<br>
The False Knight Upon The Road<br>
This version taken from "English and Scottish Popular<br>
Ballads" from the collection of Francis James Child. Pub.<br>
1904<br>
Historical notes: This singular ballad is known only<br>
through Motherwell's Minstrelsy. The idea at the bottom of the<br>
piece is that the devil will carry off the wee boy if he can<br>
nonplus him. There is a similar Swedish ballad in which an old<br>
crone, possibly a witch, is substituted for the false knight.<br>
The dialog between the knight and the boy alternates<br>
consistently, the attribution lines serving as a refrain.<br>
A variation of this song is performed by "Steeleye<br>
Span" on Please to See the King (1971, Chrysalis) and<br>
by Maddy Prior and Tim Hart on Summer Solstice<br>
(Shanachie).<br>
"O whare are ye gaun?"<br>
Quo the fause knicht upon the road.<br>
"I'm gaun to the scule,"<br>
Quo the wee boy, and still he stude.<br>
"What is that upon your back?"<br>
Quo the fause knicht upon the road.<br>
"Atweel it is my bukes," Quo etc.<br>
Quo the wee boy, and still he stude.<br>
What's that ye've got in your arm?"<br>
Quo...<br>
"Atweel it is my peit."<br>
Quo...<br>
"Wha's aucht they sheep?"<br>
"They are mine and my mither's."<br>
"How monie o them are mine?"<br>
"A'they that hae blue tails."<br>
"I wiss ye were on yon tree;"<br>
"And a gude ladder under me."<br>
"And the ladder for to break;"<br>
"And you for to fa down."<br>
"I wiss ye were in yon sie;"<br>
"And a gude bottom under me."<br>
"And the bottom for to break;"<br>
"And ye to be drowned."<br>
<br>