Sir James the Rose

X:1
T:Sir James the Rose
B:Journal of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, Dec 1936
S:Mr. Jas. Walsh at Ferryland, Newfoundland, August 1, 1930
Z:Maud Karpeles
F:http://www.folkinfo.org/songs
M:4/4     %Meter
L:1/8     %
K:Gm
D2 |G3 A B2 (cA) |G2 (FD) F3 c |(d=e) f2 (ed) c2 | A6
w:Of all the Scot-tish_ north-ern_ chiefs of high_ and war-*like fame,
c2 |(d=e) (fd) (cB) A2 |(cB) (AG) F2 D2 |B2 (GB) (AG) F2 | G6 z2 |]
w: The brav-*est_ was_ Sir James_ the_ Ross, A knight of_ might-*y fame.
W:Of all the Scottish northern chiefs
W:Of high and warlike fame,
W:The bravest was Sir James the Ross,
W:A knight of mighty fame.
W:
W:(Lyrics for first verse as given by the source.
W:No other verses listed in the Journal.
W:The version below is from 'The Digital Tradition')
W:
W:Of all the northern Scottish Chiefs
W:That live as warlike men,
W:The bravest was Sir James, the Rose,
W:A knight of muckle fame.
W:
W:His growth was like the thrifty fir
W:That crowns the mountain's brow
W:And wavering o'er his shoulders broad
W:Bright locks of yellow flow.
W:
W:Three years he fought on bloody fields
W:Against their English king.
W:Scarce two and twenty summers yet
W:This fearless youth had seen.
W:
W:It was fair Mathildy that he loved
W:That girl with beauty rare,
W:And Margaret on the Scottish throne
W:With her could not compare.
W:
W:Long he had wooed, long she'd refused
W:It seemed, with scorn and pride
W:But after all confessed her love;
W:Her faithful words, denied.
W:
W:My father was born a cruel lord.
W:This passion does approve.
W:He bids me wed Sir John a Grame
W:And leave the one I love.
W:
W:My father's will I must fulfill,
W:Which puts me to a stand
W:Some fair maid in her beauty bloom
W:May bless you with her hand.
W:
W:"Are those the vows, Mathildy dear,"
W:Sir James, the Rose, did say,
W:"And would Mathildy wed the Grame
W:When she's sworn to be my bride?"
W:
W:"I only spoke to try thy love.
W:I'll ne'er wed man but thee.
W:The grave shall be my bridal bed
W:Ere Grames my husband be."
W:
W:"You take this kiss, fair youth," she said,
W:"In witness of my love,
W:May every plague down on me fall
W:The day I break my vows."
W:
W:Ere they had met and there embraced,
W:Down by a shady grove,
W:It was on a bank beside a burn
W:A blooming shelltree stood.
W:
W:Concealed beneath the undie wood
W:To hear what they might say,
W:A brother to Sir John the Grame
W:And there concealed he lay.
W:
W:Ere they did part the sun was set.
W:At haste he then replied,
W:"Return, return, you beardless youth"
W:He loud insulting cries.
W:
W:"O it's of my brother's slight love
W:Rests softly on your arm."
W:Three paces back the youth retired
W:To save himself from harm.
W:
W:Then turned around the beardless youth
W:And quick his sword he drew
W:And through his enemy's crashing blows
W:His sharp-edged weapon drew.
W:
W:Grame staggered back. He reeled and fell
W:A lifeless lump of clay.
W:"So falls my foes," said valiant Rose,
W:And straightly walked away.
W:
W:Through the green woods he then did go
W:Till he reached Lord Bohan's Hall
W:And at Mathildy's window stood
W:And thus began to call:
W:
W:"Art thou asleep, Mathildy dear?
W:Awake, my love, awake.
W:Your own true lover calls on you
W:A long farewell to take."
W:
W:"For I have slain fair Donald Grame.
W:His blood is on my sword
W:And distant are my faithful men.
W:They can't assist their lord."
W:
W:"To the Isle of Skye, I must awa'
W:Where my twa brothers abide.
W:I'll raise the gallyants of that Isle.
W:They'll combat on my side."
W:
W:"Don't do so," the maid replied,
W:"With me 'til morning stay,
W:For dark and rainy is the night
W:And dangerous is the way."
W:
W:"All night I'll watch you in my park.
W:My little page I'll send
W:He'll run and raise the Rose's clan
W:Their master to defend."
W:
W:She laid him down beneath the bush
W:And rolled him in his plaid.
W:At a distance stood the weeping maid;
W:A-weeping for her love.
W:
W:O'er hills and dales, the page he ran,
W:Till lonely in the Glen,
W:'Twas there he met Sir John the Grame
W:And twenty of his men.
W:
W:"Where art thou going, my little page?
W:What tidings dost thou bring?"
W:"I'm running to raise the Rose's clan
W:Their master to defend."
W:
W:"For he has slain fair Donald Grame.
W:His blood is on his sword,
W:And distant are his faithful men
W:They can't assist their lord."
W:
W:"Tell me where he is, my little page,
W:And I will thee well reward."
W:"He sleeps now in Lord Bohan's Hall.
W:Mathildy, she's his guard."
W:
W:He spurred his horse at a furious gait
W:And galloped o'er the lea
W:Until he reached Lord Bohan's Hall
W:At the dawning of the day.
W:
W:Without the gate, Mathildy stood
W:To whom the Grame replied,
W:"Saw ye Sir James, the Rose, last night,
W:Or did he pass this way?"
W:
W:"Last day at noon fair James, the Rose,
W:I seen him passing by.
W:He was mounted on a milk-white steed
W:And forward fast did fly.
W:
W:"He's in Edinborotown now by this time
W:If man and horse proves good."
W:"Your page now lies who said he was
W:A-sleeping in the wood."
W:
W:She wrung her hands and tore her hair
W:Saying, "Rose, thou art betrayed,
W:Thou art betrayed all by those means
W:I was sure you would be saved."
W:
W:The hero heard a well-known voice;
W:This valiant knight awoke,
W:Oh, he awoke and drew his sword
W:As this brave band appeared.
W:
W:"So you have slain my brother dear;
W:His blood as dew did shine
W:And by the rising of the sun
W:Your blood shall flow or mine."
W:
W:"You speak the truth," the youth replies,
W:"That deeds can prove the man.
W:Stand by your men and hand to hand
W:You'll see our valiant stand."
W:
W:"If boasting words a coward hide,
W:It is my sword you fear,
W:It's seen the day on FIodden's Field
W:When you sneaked in the rear."
W:
W:"Oh, at him, men, and cut him down
W:Oh, cut him down in twain.
W:Five thousand pounds onto the man
W:Who leaves him on the plain."
W:
W:Four of his men ---the bravest four---
W:Fell down before that sword,
W:But still they scorned that mean revenge
W:And sought the cowardly Lord.
W:
W:Till cowardly behind him stole the Grame
W:And wound him in the side.
W:Out gushing came his purple gore
W:And all his garments dyed.
W:
W:But ne'er of his sword did he quit the grip
W:Nor fell he to the ground
W:Till through his enemy's heart his steel
W:Had pierced a fatal wound.
W:
W:Grame staggered back. He reeled and fell
W:A lifeless lump of clay
W:Whilst down beside him sank the Rose
W:That fainting, dying lay.
W:
W:O when Mathildy seen him fall,
W:"O spare his life," she cried,
W:"Lord Bohan's daughter begs his life.
W:She shall not be denied."
W:
W:The hero heard a well-known voice
W:And raised his death-closed eyes
W:And fixed them on the weeping maid,
W:And faintly this replies,
W:
W:"In vain, Mathildy, you beg my life.
W:By death's, it's been denied ;
W:My race is run. Good-bye, my love,"
W:He closed his eyes and died.
W:
W:She drew his sword from his left side
W:With frantic hands, she drew.
W:"I come, I come, brave Rose," she cried,
W:"I'm going to follow you."
W:
W:She leaned the hilt upon the ground
W:And pressed her snow-white breast;
W:Laid down upon her lover's face
W:And endless went to rest.
W:
W:So come all indulging parents,
W:By this warning take
W:And never encourage your children dear
W:Their sacred vows to break.
W:
W:
W:From Ballads Migrant in New England, Flanders
W:Collected from Hanford Hayes, Staceyville, ME 1940

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