The English and Scottish Popular Ballads/Part 1/Chapter 3

For more information see Wikipedia The Fause Knight Upon the Road

87040The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, Part 1 — 3. The Fause Knight on the RoadFrancis James Child

A

"O WHARE are ye gaun?"
      Refrain: Quo the fause knicht upon the road:
"I'm gaun to the scule,"
      Refrain: Quo the wee boy, and still he stude.
"What is that upon your back?"
      Refrain: quo etc.
"Atweel it is my bukes,"
      Refrain: quo etc.
"What's that ye've got in your arm?"
"Atweel it is my peit."
"Wha's aucht they sheep?"
"They are mine and my mither's."
"How monie o them are mine?"
"A' they that hae blue tails."
"I wiss ye were on yon tree:"
"And a gude ladder under me."
"And the ladder for to break:"
"And you for to fa down."
"I wiss ye were in yon sie:"
And a gude bottom under me."
"And the bottom for to break:"
"And ye to be drowned."


B

"O WHARE are ye gaun?" quo the false knight,
And false, false was his rede:
"I'm gaun to the scule," says the pretty little boy,
And still, still he stude.


C

"O whare are ye gaun?"
      Refrain: Says the false knight upon the road:
"I am gaun to the schule,"
      Refrain: Says the wee boy, and still he stood.
"Wha's aught the sheep on yonder hill?"
"They are my papa's and mine."
"How many of them's mine?"
"A' them that has blue tails."
"I wish you were in yonder well:"
"And you were down in hell."