Fair Annie
Child #62 6:56 V, OM & HG.
A celebration of sisterhood and some mixed emotions – is Lord Thomas shamed by Annie’s loyalty into a better attitude by the end of the story? Best just to tell it and not delve too deep - I don’t find any simple explanations here.
Tyne = lose.
“It’s narrow, narrow make your bed, and learn to lie alone,
For I’m going over the sea, fair Annie, a fine bride to bring home.
With her I’ll get both gold and gear, with you I n’er got none,
I took you as a waif woman, I’ll leave you as the same.”
“But who will bake my bridal bread, who’ll brew my bridal ale,
And who will welcome my brisk bride, that I bring o’er the dale?”
“It’s I will bake your bridal bread, and I’ll brew your bridal ale,
And I will welcome your brisk bride, that you bring o’er the dale.”
“But she that welcomes my brisk bride must go like a maiden fair,
And she must lace her middle so neat and braid her yellow hair,”
“But how can I go maiden-like when maiden I am none?
For I have borne seven sons by thee and am with child again.”
She’s taken her young son in her arms, another in her hand,
And she is up to the highest tower, to see him come to land.
“Come up, come up, my eldest son, and look o’er yon sea strand,
And you shall see this new-come bride, before she comes to land.”
“Come down, come down, my mother dear, come down from the castle wall,
I fear that if you longer stand you’ll let yourself down fall.”
And she got down and further down, her love’s fine ship to see,
And the top mast and the main mast they shone like silver free.
And she’s gone down and further down the bride’s ship to behold,
And the top mast and the main mast they shone like burning gold.
She’s taken her seven sons by the hand, and O she did not fail,
She met Lord Thomas and his brisk bride as they came o’er the dale.
“You’re welcome to your house, Lord Thomas, you’re welcome to your land,
You’re welcome with your fair lady that you lead by the hand.
You’re welcome to your halls, lady, you’re welcome to your bowers,
You’re welcome to your home, lady, for all you see is yours.”
“I thank thee, Annie, I thank thee Annie, so dearly I thank thee,
You’re the likest to my sister, Annie, that ever I did see.
There came a knight from over the sea and stole my sister away,
O shame on him and his company in whatever land they stay.”
So she has served the long tables with white bread and white wine,
And aye she drank the wan water to hold her colour fine.
And she has served the long tables with white bread and with brown,
And aye she turned her round about so fast the tears fell down.
When bells were rung and mass was sung and all were bound for bed,
Lord Thomas and his new-come bride to their chamber they were led.
She took her harp all in her hands to harp those two to sleep,
And as she harped and as she sang full sorely she did weep.
“If my seven sons were seven young rats running on the castle wall,
And I myself were a great grey cat, I soon should worry them all.
If my seven sons were seven young hares running on yon lily lea,
And I myself were a good greyhound soon worried they should be.”
“My gown is on,” said the new-come bride, “My shoes are on my feet,
And I will to fair Annie’s chamber and see what makes her greet.”
“What ails thee Annie, what ails thee Annie, that you make such a moan?
Have any of your barrels cast their girds or is all your white bread gone?”
“O tell me who was your father, Annie, and tell me who was your mother?
And had you ever a sister, Annie, and had you ever a brother?”
“King Easter is my dear father, the queen my mother was,
John Armstrong from the western lands, my eldest brother is.”
“If King Easter is your dear father, then also is he mine,
And it shall not be for lack of gold that you your love shall tyne.
For I have seven ships all of my own, a-loaded to the brim,
And I will give them all to you save four to your eldest son,
And I will thank the powers in heaven that I go a maiden home.”
A celebration of sisterhood and some mixed emotions – is Lord Thomas shamed by Annie’s loyalty into a better attitude by the end of the story? Best just to tell it and not delve too deep - I don’t find any simple explanations here.
Tyne = lose.
“It’s narrow, narrow make your bed, and learn to lie alone,
For I’m going over the sea, fair Annie, a fine bride to bring home.
With her I’ll get both gold and gear, with you I n’er got none,
I took you as a waif woman, I’ll leave you as the same.”
“But who will bake my bridal bread, who’ll brew my bridal ale,
And who will welcome my brisk bride, that I bring o’er the dale?”
“It’s I will bake your bridal bread, and I’ll brew your bridal ale,
And I will welcome your brisk bride, that you bring o’er the dale.”
“But she that welcomes my brisk bride must go like a maiden fair,
And she must lace her middle so neat and braid her yellow hair,”
“But how can I go maiden-like when maiden I am none?
For I have borne seven sons by thee and am with child again.”
She’s taken her young son in her arms, another in her hand,
And she is up to the highest tower, to see him come to land.
“Come up, come up, my eldest son, and look o’er yon sea strand,
And you shall see this new-come bride, before she comes to land.”
“Come down, come down, my mother dear, come down from the castle wall,
I fear that if you longer stand you’ll let yourself down fall.”
And she got down and further down, her love’s fine ship to see,
And the top mast and the main mast they shone like silver free.
And she’s gone down and further down the bride’s ship to behold,
And the top mast and the main mast they shone like burning gold.
She’s taken her seven sons by the hand, and O she did not fail,
She met Lord Thomas and his brisk bride as they came o’er the dale.
“You’re welcome to your house, Lord Thomas, you’re welcome to your land,
You’re welcome with your fair lady that you lead by the hand.
You’re welcome to your halls, lady, you’re welcome to your bowers,
You’re welcome to your home, lady, for all you see is yours.”
“I thank thee, Annie, I thank thee Annie, so dearly I thank thee,
You’re the likest to my sister, Annie, that ever I did see.
There came a knight from over the sea and stole my sister away,
O shame on him and his company in whatever land they stay.”
So she has served the long tables with white bread and white wine,
And aye she drank the wan water to hold her colour fine.
And she has served the long tables with white bread and with brown,
And aye she turned her round about so fast the tears fell down.
When bells were rung and mass was sung and all were bound for bed,
Lord Thomas and his new-come bride to their chamber they were led.
She took her harp all in her hands to harp those two to sleep,
And as she harped and as she sang full sorely she did weep.
“If my seven sons were seven young rats running on the castle wall,
And I myself were a great grey cat, I soon should worry them all.
If my seven sons were seven young hares running on yon lily lea,
And I myself were a good greyhound soon worried they should be.”
“My gown is on,” said the new-come bride, “My shoes are on my feet,
And I will to fair Annie’s chamber and see what makes her greet.”
“What ails thee Annie, what ails thee Annie, that you make such a moan?
Have any of your barrels cast their girds or is all your white bread gone?”
“O tell me who was your father, Annie, and tell me who was your mother?
And had you ever a sister, Annie, and had you ever a brother?”
“King Easter is my dear father, the queen my mother was,
John Armstrong from the western lands, my eldest brother is.”
“If King Easter is your dear father, then also is he mine,
And it shall not be for lack of gold that you your love shall tyne.
For I have seven ships all of my own, a-loaded to the brim,
And I will give them all to you save four to your eldest son,
And I will thank the powers in heaven that I go a maiden home.”
