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Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship / Song of the Riddles

[ Roud 36 ; Child 46 ; G/D 4:842 ; Henry H681 ; Ballad Index C046 ; Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship at Fire Draw Near ; DT CAPWEDER ; Mudcat 52865 ; trad.]

Gale Huntington: Sam Henry’s Songs of the People Alexander Keith: Last Leaves of Traditional Ballads and Ballad Airs John Ord Bothy Songs and Ballads Stephen Sedley: The Seeds of Love

Willie Mathieson of Turriff, Aberdeenshire, sang The Laird o Roslin’s Daughter to Alan Lomax on 17 July 1951. This recording was included in 2011 on the Drag City anthology of Scottish recordings by Alan Lomax, Whaur the Pig Gaed on the Spree. Alasdair Roberts and Nathan Salsburg noted:

William Mathieson sings fragmentary versions of three classic ballads; first is a version of the widespread Twa Sisters (Child #10); second is a variant the incest ballad known as Lizie Wan (Child #51); and third is the piece more commonly known as Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship (Child #46). Mr Mathieson (1884-1958) was the compiler of three huge ledgers containing 545 songs of various types, from ‘muckle sangs’ such as these to comic ditties, music hall songs and bothy ballads. Alan Lomax’s intention might have been to preserve the melodies which Mr Mathieson used for certain songs in his collection, which would account for the abbreviated nature of the recordings. It seems doubtful that all of the 545 songs which constituted his handwritten collection were in his actively sung repertoire.

Ewan MacColl sang Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship in 1956 on his and A.L. Lloyd’s anthology The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (The Child Ballads) Volume IV. As most of his songs on this series, it was included in 2009 on his double CD Ballads: Murder·Intrigue·Love·Discord. Ewan MacColl also sang Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship in 1964 on his Folkways album The English and Scottish Popular Ballads: Vol. 3. Editor Kenneth G. Goldstein noted in the first album’s booklet:

Riddles and riddling songs have long been popular in the folklore of the world’s peoples. It is probable that the riddle portion of this ballad existed independently in tradition some time before Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship came into being. The meter and form of the ballad suggest a late composition (probably no earlier than the middle of the 17^th century), while the riddles have been found in manuscripts dating from the 14^th and 15^th centuries.

The ballad itself was known to Child in only three versions. It was still popular in tradition in Scotland early in this century for Greig [The Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection] collected nine versions in Aberdeen, though it may presently be extinct there. American texts of this ballad are rare, though the riddle portion of the ballad has been collected widely as a separate song entitled I Gave My Love a Cherry or The Riddle Song.

The version sung by MacColl was learned from Greig and Keith [Last Leaves of Traditional Ballads and Ballad Airs].

Frank Donnelly sang You and I in the One Bed Lie in a recording made by Diane Hamilton in 1956-62 that was included in 1977 on the Green Linnet anthology Singing Men of Ulster.

Sandy Paton sang Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship in 1959 on his Elektra album The Many Sides of Sandy Paton. Kenneth S. Goldstein noted:

Courting a maiden nowadays can cost a man considerable time, energy, and money, but in days of yore a suitor with a quick tongue and a good mind for riddles could make his fair lady “roll over next to the wall” in no time flat. Witness the hero of this saucy ballad—a few answers to some ancient riddles and the victory is his!

Séamus Ennis sang Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship, in a recording made by Peter Kennedy in Dublin, on the anthology The Child Ballads Volume 1 (The Folksongs of Britain Volume 4; Caedmon 1961; Topic 1968). The album’s booklet notes:

Very often printed in British songsters in the 18^th and early 19^th century, this risque riddling ballad became popular in Ireland and thence, probably, was carried itself to New England, where it has been often found since. Again it is a question whether the story form was imposed upon the riddling sequence or whether the reverse was the case. Of the well-known riddling songs there are three forms/mdash;the well known I Gave My Love a Cherry, found in the Southern Mountains by Cecil Sharp, published by him in English Folk Songs From the Southern Appalachians, II, 190, and thence popularized by Burl Ives; the English and New England I Gave My Love an Apple; and Perrie Merrie Dictum Dominie, found in England and the Northeast.

Certainly the theme of the ingenious suitor is an ancient one. It forms the plot of many fairy stories, occurs in the Arabian Nights and in Greek collections. Again in this ballad form we encounter the pagan notion that a woman encountered alone and unprotected is fair game and must expect to yield to her captor, unless she is wittier than he. The lusty keeper makes his demands upon the Captain’s daughter. She counters by asking a group of three riddles, then a group of four, which, according to ancient courting custom, he must be able to answer correctly or give her up. Apparently the lady is pleased and impressed by his success, for the ballad concludes …

Little did this lady think that morning when she raise,
That this was for to be the last o’ a’ her maiden days.
But there’s na into the king’s realm to be found a blither twa,
And now she’s Mrs. Wedderburn, and she lies to the wa’.

For references see: Coffin p. 59, Greig p. 33, Ord p. 416, Dean-Smith p. 100.

Sarah Makem sang three verses of You and I in One Bed Lie (Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship) to Diane Hamilton in 1962. This recording was included in 2011 on her Musical Traditions anthology As I Roved Out. Rod Stradling noted:

Like Riddles Wisely Expounded (Roud 161; Child 1) (Child 1) and The Elfin Knight (Child 2), this ballad concerns a would-be suitor who can only gain his love by performing certain tasks; in this case by answering riddles. While the riddling form of song is extremely ancient, it has been suggested by B.H. Bronson, among others, that the courtship narrative in this ballad is a comparative latecomer. He described it as having been “thoroughly overhauled in quite modern times”.

As well as in this present form, it has been found in numerous guises: as a nursery rhyme (Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie); a straightforward love song (I Gave My Love a Cherry); and in the South West United States as a cante-fable. A version from the Lower Labrador Coast entitled The Devil and the Blessed Virgin Mary introduced a religious aspect into the plot, but all other versions seem to have been secular.

Quite a popular ballad, with 153 Roud instances, mostly from Scotland and the USA—Ireland has 23, including lots of the big names. Although there are 35 sound recordings, few remain available on CD: Pat MacNamara (MTCD331-2); Maggie Murphy (VT134CD); Willie Clancy (TSCD651); Thomas Moran (CD 1775); Joe Rae (MTCD313).

Willie Clancy sang this song as The Song of the Riddles in 1967 on his Topic album The Minstrel From Clare (recorded by Bill Leader in a pub in Carraroe, Co. Galway) and on the 1998 Topic anthology Come Let Us Buy the Licence (The Voice of the People Series Volume 1). Brendan Brathnath noted on the original record:

Under this local title is found Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship (Child 46) and yet another air to add to the twenty-four or five already noted to which this song is sung. Willie learned this song from a neighbour who had the title as above but had no name for the air, which is one in use for several other songs.

Alec Foster from Belfast sang Stock and Wall to Hugh Shields on 13 October 1968. This recording was included in 1975 on the Leader anthology of Folk Ballads From Donegal and Derry collected by Hugh Shields, who noted:

Sung to me in his house in Belfast by Alec Foster, 13 October 1968.

Other Ulster versions preserve a fuller catalogue of riddles, but the rather whimsical manner of this ballad is perhaps better not sustained too long. This was no doubt the thought that provoked the abridged and abrupt conclusion in v.6.

The mixolydian air recalls a popular Irish broadside ballad, The Girl I Left Behind, though at the same time it quite obviously belongs in Bronson’s group B Published versions not in Bronson are BC; BT; KFSN; SSM. Sound recordings; BBC 19024; BBC 22026; BBC 22370; TC 1145 (a); 12T160 (a); 12T175.

Lorna Campbell sang Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship in 1968 on her and her brother Ian Campbell’s Transatlantic album The Cock Doth Crow. Ian Campbell noted:

The performance of seemingly impossible tasks or the solving of riddles by a young man as a prerequisite for the winning of his lady’s hand seems to have been a popular theme in legend and song in many countries of the world since earliest times. Riddling courtship tales were popular all over Europe throughout the middle ages and these may have been based on classic Greek legends, but the Greeks probably inherited the tales from earlier Asiatic sources, and it would be a brave man today who attempted to trace this idea to its origin.

A ritual riddling of the groom by the bride’s family is still a part of the wedding ceremony in some parts of Russia, and the universal appeal of the idea is demonstrated by the wide circulation throughout Scotland of the Captain Wedderburn ballad in its comparatively modern form. Students of the oral tradition will no doubt be interested in the process by which generations of oral transmission transformed Captain Wedderburn into the popular American song I Gave My Love a Cherry.

Tim Hart and Maddy Prior sang Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship in 1969 on their second duo album, Folk Songs of Old England Vol. 2, but they lose the third set of riddles from MacColl’s version. The record’s sleeve notes comment:

Riddles have for a long time played a noteworthy part in ballad courtship even occurring as far away as Siberia, the woman promising her hand to the first suitor to solve her riddles. This is an anglicised collation of a number of Scottish versions the brunt of which comes from the collection of F.J. Child (No. 46). An old Scottish house consisted of one large room with the beds set in alcoves, the wife sleeping between her husband and the wall for protection; although conversely she could not escape.

Rose McCartin sang Stock or Wall to Hugh Shields at her home in Annalong, Co Down, on 24 July 1970. This recording was included in 1985 on the Folk Music Society of Ireland anthology Early Ballads in Ireland 1968-1985, reissued on CD in 2015 by An Goílín (on which it is named Stock or Wall in the booklet but The Keeper of the Game in the tracklist). The booklet noted:

Mrs Rose McCartin, aged about 65, housewife, Longstone Road, Annalong, Co. Down, in her home with family and neighbours, 24 July 1970. Rec. HS (7004). This song won her first prize (a clock) in a ballad competition.

Frank Harte sang He Rolled Her to the Wall in 1973 on his Topic LP Through Dublin City. This track was also included in 2009 on Topic’s 70^th anniversary anthology Three Score and Ten. Frank Harte commented in his liner notes:

Similar in content to Rosemary Fair except that in this case instead of tasks which must be performed it is riddles which must be answered. It is a version of Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship. This type of song has been sung all over Europe since medieval times, originally as Christian moralities, later as love songs.

Pat MacNamara of Kilshanny, near Ennistymon, sang Mr Woodburren’s Courtship in 1975 to Jim Carroll and Pat Mackenzie.. This recording was included in 2004 on the Musical Traditions anthology of songs from their collection, Around the Hills of Clare.

Jean Redpath sang Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship in 1975 on her eponymous album Jean Redpath. She noted:

This ballad has gone full circle. The older element of the story, the riddles, can be traced back at least as far as the Sloan Ms. of the early 15^th century. Scholars agree that the rest of the story is late and literary. In America it has again been reduced to the basic riddling form at in the song I Gave My Love a Cherry. There is no English counterpart of this ballad as far as I know, but it is the basis for Bob Coltman’s contemporary American song Captain Hanley and Sweet Mazie.

Staverton Bridge (Sam Richards, Tish Stubbs and Paul Wilson) sang Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship in 1975 on their eponymous Saydisc album Staverton Bridge. They noted:

Whether or not this ballad has a long pedigree in oral tradition (and Bronson casts justified doubts), its basic idea is very ancient indeed. Courtship narratives which involve asking riddles can be found in the oral tales of many primitive communities, in The Arabian Nights and in the literature of classical civilisations, and in peasant communities right across Europe and the East. There are English medieval manuscript versions of the Riddle Song, notably I Have a Young Sister from the early 15^th century. Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship does not seem to have been popular in England at all, no versions having yet come to light, although the related Riddle Song has often been reported, especially in the Westcountry. In Scotland and Ireland and various parts of Canada and the USA however it has been very popular.

Gordeanna McCulloch sang Captain Wedderburn in 1978 on her Topic album Sheath and Knife. She noted:

Collected in Aberdeenshire early this century by Gain Greig, and published in Greig and Keith’s Last Leaves of Traditional Ballads and Ballad Airs (Aberdeen 1925).
‘Jimp’: neat, ‘weel-favured’: good looking, ‘gaa’: gall.

Roy Harris sang Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship in 1985 on his Fellside album Utter Simplicity. He noted:

A riddle ballad par excellence. Joe Heaney, the greatest traditional singer I have ever heard, sang it into my tape recorder when he stayed at my house after a performance at Cardiff Folksong Club in the early 60’s. Joe looked upon his songs as works of art, deserving the greatest respect, and he was right. Likewise his performance of them, highly decorated, pulsing along, perfectly paced. Joe Heaney was a master. Seek out his recordings and you’ll hear. I cannot imitate Joe Heaney but have sung this song of his for years. I sing it here in memory of a great artist.

Duncan Williamson sang Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship to John Howson in August 1991. This recording was incuded in 2014 on his posthumous Veteran anthology Put Another Log on the Fire.

Sheena Wellington sang Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship on the 1995 Greentrax anthology of songs from the Greig-Duncan Collection as performed at the Edinburgh International Festival, Folk Songs of North-East Scotland.

Maggie Murphy sang Stock or Wall (Captain Emmerson) on her 1996 Veteran CD of traditional folk songs and ballads from Tempo, Co Fermanagh, Linkin’ O’er the Lea and on the 2014 Musical Traditions anthology of traditional songs from around Lough Erne’s shore, I Pray You Pay Attention. John Howson noted on the Veteran album:

Maggy enjoys singing this song and thinks she got it from her father. As she finishes singing it she often exclaims, “That’s a wee funny one!” Her tune is not the usual one which is similar to Tramps and Hawkers but is the air to Maid of the Sweet Brown Know [Roud 562; Laws P7]. It is often called Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship and its origins are probably Scottish although it is also found widely throughout England and Ireland. A version was printed in “The New British Songster, a Collection of Songs, Scots and English, with Toasts and Sentiments for the Bottle”, Falkirk, 1785. In Ulster it has often been recorded and those worth hearing are: Alec Foster, Belfast (Leader 4055), Frank Donnelly, Pomeroy, Co. Tyrone (now Green Linnet SIF 1005), Rose McCartin, Annalong, Co. Down (European Ethnic), and Hughie McAlindon, Rathfriland, Co. Down

Joe Rae from Ayrshire sang The Laird o’ Roslyn’s Doughter on his 2001 Musical Traditions anthology The Broom Blooms Bonny. Rod Stradling noted:

Like Riddles Wisely Expounded (Child 1) and The Elfin Knight (Child 2), The Laird o’ Roslyn’s Dochter concerns a would-be suitor who can only gain his love by performing certain tasks, in this case by answering riddles. Professor Child noted that such ideas were ancient and once widespread across eastern Europe and the Middle East. One such example, which he quotes, is the Persian story of Prince Calaf who is given the task of answering the following three riddles:

“What is to be found in every land, is dear to all the world, and cannot endure a fellow?” Calaf answers, “The sun.” “What mother swallows the children she has given birth to, as soon as they have attained their growth?” “The sea,” says Calaf, “for the rivers that flow into it all come from it.” “What is a tree that has all its leaves white on one side and black on the other?” “This tree,” Calaf answers, “is the year, which is made up of days and nights.”

The song I Gave My Love a Cherry also clearly belongs to this tradition, and is no doubt derived from the ballad. Joe learnt the ballad from Edward ‘Ned’ Robertson, a retired shephered who lived next door to Joe in Sorn and who would have been born sometime around 1885. The tune used by both Ned and Joe has been used to carry a number of songs and ballads over the years, the best known being the bothy song Drumdelgie.

Child mentions that the ballad was printed in an undated chapbook, Lord Roslin’s Daughter’s Garland, which runs to some eighteen verses. According to Joe, Ned’s original version was also extremely long and Joe is aware that he never managed to get the full story from Ned.

Katherine Campbell sang Captain Wedderburn in 2004 on her Springthyme CD The Songs of Amelia and Jane Harris which is a companion to the book The Song Repertoire of Amelia and Jane Harris, edited by Emily Lyle (2002). Peter Shepheard noted:

A young lady, the Earl of Rosslyn’s daughter, is riding out one day when she meets a gallant gentleman, Captain Wedderburn, who asks her to go with him. The ballad then consists of a verbal battle, or ‘flyting’ as the lady replies that she will only go with him if he can answer a series of six riddling questions. The ballad is still to be found in the living tradition today, although often pared down to the riddling questions without mention of the named participants (Child 46; GD 842; Last Leaves 19).

I maun hae to my supper, a bird without a bone;
And I maun hae to my supper, a cherry without a stone.

An I maun hae a gentle bird, that flies withoot a gall,
Before that I gae with you, I tell you aye or na.

To reduce the clear sexual implications of the ballad, the last line of each stanza was almost certainly changed by the Harris sisters when committing the ballad to paper. So, in the first stanza, the line: “Sae I will tak you wi me, I tell you aye or na” would probably have read (as in other versions) “Sae I will tak ye to my bed and lay ye neist the wa”. In the final stanza, after Wedderburn has correctly answered all the riddles, he brings the flyting to an end with, “Sae we’ll baith lie in ae bed, and ye’ll lie neist the wa”.

Bellowhead sang an abridged version of the song with the abridged title Captain Wedderburn in 2010 on their CD Hedonism. A 20125 live recording was released in 2016 on their album The Farewell Tour, and they performed it again in December 2020 on their 2021 Hudson album Reassembled. Their verses are quite similar to Tim Hart and Maddy Prior’s but they skip the three verses with the first riddles too. Jon Boden sang it unaccompanied as the 27 February 2011 entry of his project A Folk Song a Day where he noted:

I’m really proud of the Bellowhead version of this strange little riddle song. I wonder whether “worse than a woman’s voice” may be a mondegreen (woman’s scorn maybe?), but it makes me chuckle so I’ve left it. This one is learnt from Tim and Maddy’s lovely version.

Mick Flynn sang Captain Weatherbourne’s Courtship in 2011 on the Ron Kavana and Friends album 40 Favourite Folk Songs.

Alasdair Roberts and Karine Polwart sang Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship on their 2011 Drag City single Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship.

Alistair Ogilvy sang Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship in 2012 on his Greentrax CD Leaves Sae Green. He noted:

I first heard this ballad of courtship and riddles from the inspiring singer Gordeanna McCulloch.

Lyrics

Ewan MacColl sings Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship

The Laird o’ Roslin’s dochter walked through the woods her leen
When by cam’ Captain Wedderburn, a servant tae the King.
He said unto his servant man, “Were it no’ against the law
I would tak’ her tae my ain bed and lie her neist the wa’.”

“I’m walkin’ here alane,” she said, “among my faither’s trees,
And you must let me walk alane, kind sir, now if you please;
The supper bells, they will be rung and I’ll be missed awa’,
So I canna lie in your bed, either at stock or wa’.”

He says, “My bonnie lassie, I pray lend me your hand,
And ye’ll get drums and trumpets always at your command,
And fifty men tae guard you as long’s this sword can draw,
And we’ll baith lie in ae bed and you’ll lie neist the wa’.”

“Oh,” says the bonnie lassie, “Pray tell tae me your name.”
“My name is Captain Wedderburn, a servant tae the King.
Though your faither were here and a’ his men, I would tak ye fae them a’,
I wad tak ye tae my ain bed and lay ye neist the wa’.”

He jumped aff his milk-white steed and set the lady on,
And a’ the way he walked on foot and held her by the hand.
He held her by the middle jimp for fear that she should fa’
Till he took her tae his ain bed tae lay her neist the wa’.

He took her tae a lodging-hoose, the landlady looked ben,
Says, “Mony’s the bonnie lady in Edinburgh I’ve seen,
But such a pretty, weel-faured face in it I never saw.
Ye’ll mak’ her doon a down bed and lay her neist the wa’.”

“Oh,” says the bonnie lassie, “before you do gain me
It’s you must dress me dishes yet and that is dishes three.
Dishes three you’ll dress tae me, though I should eat them a’
Before I lie in your bed either at stock or wa’.

“Ye’ll get tae my supper a cherry without a stone,
And you will get to my supper a chicken without a bone,
And you will get to my supper a bird without a ga’
Before I lie in your bed either at stock or wa’.”

“When the cherry is in bloom, I’m sure it hath no stone,
And when the chicken is in the egg, I’m sure it hath no bone.
The dove he is a gentle bird and flies withoot a ga’,
So we’ll baith lie in ae bed and you’ll lie neist the wa’.”

“Oh,” says the bonnie lassie, “before you me perplex
You will tell me questions yet and that is questions six.
Questions six ye’ll tell to me and that is three times twa
Before I lie in your bed either at stock or wa’.

“What’s greener than the greenest grass? What’s higher than the trees?
What’s worse than woman’s vice? What’s deeper than the seas?
What was the first bird that crew? And what did first doon fa’?
Before I lie in your bed either at stock or wa’.”

“Evergreen’s greener than the grass, heaven’s higher than the trees.
The Devil is worse than woman’s vice, Hell’s deeper than the seas.
The cock was the first bird that crew, the dew it did first doon fa’,
So we’ll baith lie in ae bed and you’ll lie neist the wa’.”

“Oh,” says the bonnie lassie, “before I gie you ower
You will tell me fairlies and that is fairlies fower.
Fairlies fower ye’ll tell to me and that is twa and twa
Before I lie in your bed either at stock or wa’.

“You will gie to me fruit that in December grew;
Ye’ll get to me a mantle that waft was ne’er ca’d through,
A sparrow wi’ a horn and a priest unborn this night to join us twa,
Before I lie in your bed either at stock or wa’.”

“My faither had plums that in December grew,
My mither had an Indian goon that weft was ne’er ca’d through,
A sparrow wi’ a horn, that’s easily found, there’s ane on every claw,
An’ twa upon the gab o’t, and you shall hae them a’.

“The priest is standing at the door, just ready tae come in;
No one can say that he was born, no one unless he sin;
A wound cut in his mother’s side and he oot’ o’t did fa.
So we’ll baith lie in ae bed and you’ll lie neist the wa’.”

Little did that fair maid think that morning when she raise
That it would be the very last o’ a’ her maiden days.
And in the parish whaur they live they was not a blither twa
And they baith lay in ae bed and she lay neist the wa’.

Séamus Ennis sings Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship

Now a gentleman’s fair daughter walked down a narrow lane,
She met with Captain Wedderburn, the keeper of the game;
He said unto his servant man, “If it were not for the law,
I would have that maid in bed with me, and she’d lie next the wall.”

“For my breakfast you must get for me a cherry without a stone;
For my dinner you must get for me a bird without a bone;
For my supper you must get for me a bird without a gall,
Ere you and I in one bed lie or I lie next the wall.”

“Well, the cherry when in blossom, it surely has no stone;
The bird when it is in the egg, it surely has no bone;
The dove it is a gentle bird, and flies without a gall,
So you and I in one bed will lie and you’ll lie next the wall.”

“O then go your way, young man,” she said, “And do not me perplex.
Before you’ll lie one night with me, you must answer me questions six,
Six questions you must answer me whilst I set forth them all,
Before I lie one night with you at either stock or wall.

“O what is rounder than a ring, what’s higher than the tree?
And what is worse than women’s wrath, what is deeper than the sea?
What bird sings best, what tree buds first, and on it the dew first fall?
Ere you and I in one bed lie or I lie next the wall.”

The world is rounder than a ring, heaven’s higher than the tree;
The devil is worse than women’s wrath, and hell is deeper than the sea;
The lark sings best and the oak buds first and on it the dew first falls,
So you and I in one bed will lie, and you’ll lie next the wall.”

“You must get for me some winter fruit that in December grew;
You must get for me a silk mantle that weft nor warp went through,
A sparrow’s horn and a priest unborn to wed us both in twa,
Ere you and I in one bed lie or I lie next the wall.”

“Well, my father has some winter fruit that in December grew;
My mother has a silk mantle that weft nor warp went through;
A sparrow’s horn is easy found, there is one in every claw;
And Welkisitik was a priest unhorn—and you’ll lie next the wall!”

Sarah Makem sings You and I in One Bed Lie (Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship)

“Ara, go, begone young man,” she says, “And do not bother me.
Before I lie one night with you, you must grant me wishes three;
Three wishes you must grant to me, supposing I lose the fall,
Before you and I in the one bed lie at either stock or wall.

“You must get for me me breakfast a bird without a bone,
You must get for me me dinner, a cherry without a stone,
You must get for me my supper, a bird without a gall,
Before you and I in the one bed lie at either stock or wall.”

“Oh well, when the bird is in the shell I’ll vow it has no bone,
And when the cherry is in its blossom I vow it has no stone,
The dove she is a gentle bird, she flies without a gall,
So it’s you and I in the one bed lie and I’ll lie next the wall.”

Willie Clancy sings The Song of the Riddles

A gentleman’s fair daughter stepped down a narrow lane,
She met with Captain Wetherburn, the keeper of the game.
He said unto his servant man, “If it were not for the law,
I’d have that maid in bed with me and she’d lie next the wall.”

“Ah, then go away, young man”, she said, “and do not bother me.
Before you lie one night with me, you must answer me questions three.
Three questions you must answer me. whilst I set forth them all,
Ere you and I in one bed lie and I lie next the wall.

“You must get me for my breakfast a cherry without a stone;
You must get me for my dinner a bird without a bone;
For my supper you must get for me a bird without a gall,
Ere you and I in one bed lie or I lie next the wall.”

“Now, the cherry when in blossom it surely has no stone;
The chicken when it’s in the egg it surely has no bone;
The dove she is a gentle bird and flies without a gall,
So you and I in one bed lie and you’ll lie next the wall.”

“Ah, go away, young man”, she said, “and do not me perplex.
Before you lie one night with me, you must answer me questions six.
Six questions I’ll put forth to you, whilst you shall answer all,
Ere you and I in one bed lie or I lie next the wall.

“Now, what is rounder than a ring? What’s higher than a tree?
And what is worse than woman’s wrath? What’s deeper than the sea?
What bird sings best, what tree buds first and on the dew first fall?
Ere you and I in one bed lie or I’ll lie next the wall.”

“Now. the world is rounder than a ring; Heaven’s higher than a tree;
The Devil is worse than woman’s wrath; Hell’s deeper than the sea;
The lark sings best; the heath buds first and there the dew first fall.
So you and I in one bed lie and you’ll lie next the wall.”

“You must get for me some winter fruit that in December grew;
You must get for me a mantle that weft nor warp went through;
A sparrow’s horn; a priest unborn; two wills both in twa,
Ere you and I in one bed lie or I’ll lie next the wall.”

“Now, my father has some winter fruit that in December grew;
My mother has a mantle that weft nor warp went through;
A sparrow’s horn is easy got. there is one in every claw;
And Melchisedek was a priest unborn, and you lie next the wall.”

Alec Foster sings Stock and Wall

A nobleman’s fair daughter come walking down yon lane
When up comes William Patterson, the keeper of the game
And says he unto his serving man, “If it wasn’t for the law
I’d have this maid within me bed and she’d lie next the wall.”

“O go, begone, young man”, she said, “and do not me perplex;
Before you lie one night with me you must answer questions six,
Six questions you must answer and I’ll put forth them all
Before you and I in one bed lie at either stock or wall.

“O, what is rounder nor a ring, what’s higher nor a tree
And what is worse nor womankind, what’s deeper nor the sea.
What tree buds first, what bird sings best and from whence the dewdrops fall
Before you and I in one bed lie at either stock or wall?”

“The globe is rounder nor a ring, heaven’s higher nor a tree.
The devil’s worse nor womankind, hell’s deeper nor the sea.
The yew buds first, the thrush sings best and from heaven the dewdrops fall
So you and I’ll in one bed lie and you’ll lie next the wall.”

“You must get for me some winter fruit that in December grew.
You must get for me a mantle that waft ne’er went through,
A sparrow’s horn, a priest unshorn and a bird without a gall
Before you and I in one bed lie at either stock or wall.”

“Me father has some winter fruit that in December grew,
Me mother has a mantle that waft ne’er went through,
A sparrow’s horn’s no ill to find, there’s one on every claw.
And Melchisedech’s a priest unshorn”— (spoken) so he rowls her to the wall!

Tim Hart & Maddy Prior sing Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship

The Laird o’ Roslin’s daughter walked through the woods alone
When by come Captain Wedderburn, a servant of the King.
He said unto his servant man, “Were it not against the law
I’d take her into my own bed and lie her next to the wall.”

Then he jumped off his milk-white steed and he set the lady on,
And all the way he walked on foot and he held her by the hand.
He held her by the middle of the waist for fear that she should fall
Till he took her to his own bed to lie her next to the wall.

“Oh,” said the pretty lady, “before you do gain me
It’s you must dress me dishes yet and that is dishes three.
It’s dishes three you must dress me, though I’ll not eat at all
Before I’ll lie in your bed at either stock or wall.”

“Oh you must get for supper a cherry without a stone,
And you must get for supper a chicken without a bone,
And you must get for supper a bird without a gall
Before I’ll lie in your bed at either stock or wall.”

“A cherry when it is in bloom, I’m sure it has no stone,
And the chicken when it’s in the egg, I’m sure it has no bone.
The dove she is a gentle bird and she flies without a gall,
So we’ll lie both in one bed and you’ll lie next to the wall.”

“Oh,” said the pretty lady, “before you me perplex
It’s you must answer questions yet and that is questions six.
Questions six you must tell me and that is three times twa
Before I’ll lie in your bed at either stock or wall.”

“Oh, what is greener than the grass? What’s higher than the trees?
Oh, what is worse than woman’s vice? What’s deeper than the seas?
What was the first bird that did crow? And what did first down fall?
Before I’ll lie in your bed at either stock or wall.”

“Oh, death is greener than the grass and is higher than the trees.
The Devil is worse than a woman’s vice, Hell is deeper than the seas.
The cock was the first bird that did crow and the dew did first down fall,
So we’ll lie both in one bed and you’ll lie next to the wall.”

Oh little did that fair maid think that morning when she rose
That this would be the very last of all her maiden days.
And in the parish where they live they’re the happiest pair of all
And they both lie in one bed and she lies next to the wall.

Rose McCartin sings Stock or Wall

As I roved out one evening down by a narrow lane
I met with Mr Gilmore the keeper of the game;
I said unto his servant maid “If it’s only by the law
I would have that maid lie in my bed at either stock or wall.”

“Now go away, young man”, said she, “and do not bother me,
For before that I’d lie in your bed you must answer my questions three;
Three questions you must answer me as on them I will call
Before that I’d lie in your bed at either stock or wall.

“Now for my breakfast you must get me a bird without a bone
And for my dinner you must get me a cherry without a stone
And for my supper you must get me a bird without a bone
Before that I’d lie in your bed at either stock or wall.”

“Now when the bird is in the egg it really has no bone
And when the cherry it’s blossoming it really has no stone.
And the dove it is a gentle bird and it flies without a gall,
So it’s you and I in one bed we’ll lie and you’ll lie next the wall.”

“Now go away, young man”, said she, “and do not me prolex.
For before that I’d lie in your bed you must answer my questions six.
Six questions you must answer me as I put forth them all
Before that I’d lie in your bed at either stock or wall.

“Now what is rounder than a ring, what is higher than a tree.
And what is worse than womankind, what is deeper than the sea,
What bird sings best, what heather buds next and where the dew first fell
Before that I would lie in your bed at cither stock or wall.”

“Now the globe it is rounder than a ring, heaven’s higher than a tree,
And the devil he is worse than womankind and hell is deeper than the sea;
The thrush sings best and the heather buds next and it’s on the heather that the dew first fell.
So it’s you and I in one bed we’ll lie and you’ll lie next the wall.”

“Now go away, young man”, said she, “and bother me no more.
For before that I would lie in your bed and must answer my questions four;
Four questions you must answer me as on them I will call
Before that I’d lie in your bed at either stock or wall.

“Now you must get me a silk mantle that ne’er a weave went through
And you must get me winter fruit that in December grew,
A sparrow’s horn and a man unborn that will join us one and all
Before that I’d lie in your bed at either stock or wall.”

“Now my mother she had a silk mantle that ne’er a weave went through
And my father he had winter fruit that in December grew,
A sparrow’s horn is easily got for there’s one on every claw.
And Virginian was a man unborn so he’ll join us one and all
So it’s you and I in one bed we’ll lie and you’ll lie next the wall.”

Spoken: That’s it all
Hugh Shield: Very good, it’s lovely!

Pat MacNamara sings Mr Woodburren’s Courtship

Now an old man’s fair daughter walked down a narrow lane,
She met with Mr Woodburren, the keeper of the game.
He said, “My pretty maiden, and weren’t for the law
I’d have you now right in my bed while you lie next the wall.”

“Now then, go away young man”, she said, “Now, and do not trouble me,
Before I lie one night with you, you must get me dishes three:
Three dishes you must get for me; supposing I eat them all,
Before I lie one night with you, sure, at either stock or wall.”

“For my breakfast you must get for me a bird without a bone;
For my dinner you must get for me a cherry without a stone;
For my supper you must get for me, sure, a bird without a gall,
Before I lie one night with you at either stock or wall.”

“Oh then, when the bird is in its egg it really has no bone;
When a cherry is in its blossom, sure, it really has no stone;
The dove, she is a gentle bird and she flies without a gall,
Come you and I in one bed lie while you lie next the wall.”

“Ah then, go away young man”, she said, “Now, and do not trouble me,
Before I lie one night with you, you must answer me questions six:
Six questions you must answer me when I’ll set forth them all,
Before I lie one night with you at either stock or wall.”

“What is rounder than a ring, what is higher than the tree?
What is worse than womankind, what is deeper than the sea?
What bird sings best, the heath bird’s first, and where the dew first fall?
Before I lie one night with you at either stock or wall.”

“Now the globe is rounder than the ring, heaven is higher than the tree;
The divil is worse than womankind, hell is deeper than the sea;
The thrush sings best, the heath bird first, and there’s where the dew first fall,
So come you and I, sure, in one bed lie, and you lie next the wall.”

“Oh then, go away young man”, she said, “And do not trouble me,
Before I lie one night with you, you must answer me questions three:
Three questions you must answer me when I set forth them all,
Before I lie one night with you now, at either stock or wall.”

“You must get for me some winter fruit that in December grew;
You must get for me a mantle that ne’er a weave went through;
A sparrow’s horn, a priest unborn, to join us one and all,
Before I lie one night with you, sure, at either stock or wall.”

“Now then, my father had some winter fruit, sure, that in December grew;
My mother has a mantle that ne’er a weave went through;
A sparrow’s horn is easy got, there’s one in every claw;
And Benedict was a priest unborn; so you lie next the wall.”

So now, to conclude and to finish my song,
This couple they got married and happy they do long;
Because she being so clever, sure, she did his heart enthral,
He caught her in his arms And he rolled her from the wall.

Maggie Murphy sings Stock or Wall (Captain Emmerson)

As I went out a-walking down by yon yellow lane
I met with Captain Emmerson, the keeper of the game.
Said he unto his servant maid “Would it be against the law
For you and I in one bed lie and you’ll lie next the wall?”

It’s “O be gone, you false young man, and do not trouble me.
Before I’d lie one night with youyou must get me dishes three;
Three dishes you must get for me and I shall eat them all
Before I’d lie one night with you at either stock or wall.

“It’s for my breakfast you must get a bird without a bone
And for my dinner you must get a cherry without a stone
And for my supper you must get a bird without a gall
Before I’d lie one night with you at either stock or wall.”

“For when the bird is in the shell it really has no bones,
And when the cherry is in full bloom it really has no stone.
The dove she is a gentle bird, she flies without a gall,
So you and I in one bed lie and you’ll lie next the wall.”

It’s “O be gone, you false young man, and do not trouble me.
Before I’d lie one night with you you must answer me questions six.
Six questions you must answer me and I’ll set forth them all
Before I’d lie one night with you at either stock or wall.”

“Now what is rounder than the moon? What’s higher than the tree?
And what is worse than women’s tongues? What’s deeper than the sea?
What tree buds first? What bird sings best? And where does the dew first fall?
Before I’d lie one night with you at either stock or wall.”

“The globe is rounder than the moon, heaven’s higher than the tree.
The devil’s worse than women’s tongues, Hell’s deeper than the sea.
The heather buds first, the thrush sings best, on the ground the dew first falls
So you and I in one bed lie, lie over to the wall.”

Joe Rae sings The Laird o’ Roslyn’s Doughter

The Laird o’ Roslyn’s dochter walked through the woods her lane,
And by came Captain Wedderburn, a servant tae the king.
Says he unto his serving men, “Were it not against the law,
I would tak her tae my ain bed and lay her neist the waa.”

“I’m walking here alane,” she says, “among my faither’s trees,
And it’s ye must let me walk alane, kind sir, now if ye please.
For the supper-bell it will be rung, and I’ll be missed awa.
So I winna lie in your bed, either at stock or waa.”

He says, “My pretty Lady, pray lend tae me your haun,
And ye shall hae drums and trumpets always at your command.
And fifty men tae gaird ye wi, right weel their swords can draw,
Sae we’s baith lie in yae bed and ye’s lie neist the waa.”

“Noo haud your tongue, young man,” she says, “O your fleechin noo gie ower,
Unless you’ll find me ferlies, and that is ferlies fower.
O ferlies fower ye maun find tae me and that is twa times twa,
Or I’ll nae lie in your bed, either at stock or waa.”

“For it’s ye must get tae me a fruit, that in December grew,
An it’s ye must get tae me a goun, that waft was ne’er caaed through.
A sparrow’s horn, a priest unborn, this nicht tae join us twa,
Or I’ll nae lie in your bed, either at stock or waa.”

“Weel, my faither he has winter fruit, that in December grew.
My mither she has an Indian goun, that waft was ne’er caaed through.
A sparrow’s horn is quickly found, there’s yin on ilka claw.
There’s yin upon the neb o’ him, perhaps there may be twa.”

“Well, the priest is standing at the door, just ready tae come in.
Nae man can say that he was born, tae lie it were a sin.
For a wild boar ripped his mither’s side, he oot o’ it did fa.
Sae we’s baith lie in yae bed, and ye’s lie neist the waa.”

O little kenned Grizzie Sinclair that morning when she raise,
That this would be the hindermaist o’ aa her maiden days.
But noo there’s nae within the realm, I think a blither twa,
And they baith lie in yae bed, and she lies neist the waa.”

Bellowhead sing Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship

The Earl of Rosslyn’s daughter walked through the woods alone
When by came Captain Wedderburn, a servant of the King.
He said unto his servant man, “Were it not against the law
I’d take her into my own bed and lie her next to the wall.”

So he jumped off his milk-white steed and he set the lady on,
And all the way he walked on foot and he held her by the hand.
He held her by the middle of the waist for fear that she should fall
Before they’d lie in one bed and she’d lie next to the wall.

“But,” said the pretty lady, “before you me perplex
It’s you must answer questions yet and that is questions six.
It’s questions six you must tell me and that is three times twa
Before I’ll lie in your bed at either stock or wall.”

“Oh, what is greener than the grass, what is higher than the trees?
What is worse than a woman’s voice, what is deeper than the seas?
What was the first bird that did crow and what did first down fall?
Before I’ll lie in your bed at either stock or wall.”

“Oh, envy’s greener than the grass and is higher than the trees,
The Devil is worse than a woman’s voice, Hell is deeper than the seas.
The cock was the first bird that did crow and the dew did first down fall,
So we’ll both lie in one bed and you’ll lie next to the wall.”

Oh little did that lady think that morning when she rose
That this would be the very last of all her maiden days.
And in the cottage where they live they’re the happiest pair of all
And they both lie in one bed and she lies next to the wall.

Acknowledgements and Notes

The spelling of Roslin/Rosslyn: According to Wikipedia, Rosslyn Chapel and Roslin Castle are located at the village of Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland. So both spellings seem to be valid.

Thanks to Sylvia Sotomayor for correcting Tim Hart and Maddy Prior’s lyrics.