2299 Archie o Cawfield Child 188 Traditional Scottish

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This ballad, also known as Bold Archer , is closely related to the two previous ballads. Two brothers set out to save their third brother who is to be hanged. When they sneak into the prison, the brother, as in Jock o' the Side , says he can not escape because of the heavy chains he is carrying. They carry him off anyway and cross a river that their pursuers dare not attempt to cross. As in Jock o' the Side the former captor asks for the chains back, but the rescued prisoner says that he will keep them to shoe his horses. • This song was sung by Irish rock band, U2, at several pub concerts in the early 1980s. Bono claimed that he felt a strong connection to the ballad's protagonist. • It has been recorded by Brass Monkey among others. • This song is too long to post here in full. The complete lyrics can be seen here: https://raymondsfolkpage.wordpress.co... • Partial lyrics and chords: • D ........................... A7 ......... D • As I walked on a pleasant green- • ...................................... G ......... D • ’Twas on the first morning of May- • .................................... G .............. D • I heard twa brothers make their moan, • .......... G ............ D ............ A7 ...... D • And hearken'd well what they did say. • The first he gave a grievous sigh, • And said, “Alas, and wae is me! • We ha'e a brother condemned to death, • And the very morn must hanged be. • Then out it speaks him Little Dick, • I wot a gude fellow was he: • “Had I three men unto mysell, • Well borrowed shoud Bell Archie be.” • Out it speaks him Johnny Ha, • A better fellow by far was he: • “Ye shall hae six men and yoursell, • And me to bear you companie. • “Twa for keepers o the guard, • See that to keep it sickerlie, • And twa to come, and twa to gang, • And twa to speak wi Bell Archie. • “But we winna gang like men o war, • Nor yet will we like cavaliers; • But we will gang like corn-buyers, • And we’ll put brechens on our mares.” • Then they are to the jail-house doors, • And they hae tirled at the pin: • “Ye sleep ye, wake ye, Bell Archie? • Quickly rise, lat us come in.” • “I sleep not aft, I lie not saft; • Wha’s there that knocks and kens my name?” • “It is your brothers Dick and John; • Ye’ll open the door, lat us come in.” • “Awa, awa, my brethren dear, • And ye’ll haud far awa frae me; • If ye be found at jail-house door • I fear like dogs they’ll gar ye die.” • “Ohon, alas! My brother dear, • Is this the heark'ning ye gie to me? • If ye’ll work therein as we thereout, • Well borrow'd should your body be.” • “How can I work therein, therein, • Or yet how can I work thereout, • When fifty tons o Spanish iron • Are my fair body round about?” • He put his fingers to the lock, • I wot he handled them sickerly, • And doors of deal, and bands of steel, • He gart them all in flinders flee. • He’s ta'en the prisoner in his arms, • And he has kiss'd him cheek and chin: • “Now since we’ve met, my brother dear, • There shall be dunts ere we twa twin.” • He’s ta'en the prisoner on his back, • And a’ his heavy irons tee, • But and his marie in his hand, • And straight to Annan gate went he. • But when they came to Annan water, • It was roaring like the sea: • “O stay a little, Johnny Ha, • Here we can neither fecht nor flee. • “O a refreshment we maun hae, • We are baith dry and hungry tee; • We’ll gang to Robert’s at the mill, • It stands upon yon lily lee.” • Up in the morning the jailor raise, • As soon’s ’twas light that he coud see; • Wi' a pint o wine and a mess sae fine, • Into the prison-house went he. • When he came to the prison-door, • A dreary sight he had to see; • The locks were shot, the doors were broke, • And a’ the prisoners had won free. • “Ye’ll gae and waken Annan town, • Raise up five hundred men and three; • And if these rascals may be found, • I vow like dogs I’ll gar them die. • “O dinna ye hear proud Annan roar, • Mair loud than ever roard the sea? • We’ll get the rascals on this side, • Sure they can neither fecht nor flee. • “Some gar ride, and some gar rin, • Wi a’ the haste that ye can make; • We’ll get them in some tavern-house, • For Annan water they winna take.” • As Little Dick was looking round, • All for to see what he could see, • Saw the proud sheriff trip the plain, • Five hundred men his company. • O fare ye well, my bonny wife, • Likewise farewell, my children three! • Fare ye well, ye lands o Cafield! • For you again I ne'er will see. • “For well I kent, ere I came here, • That Annan water woud ruin me; • My horse is young, he’ll nae lat ride, • And in this water I maun die.” • Continued here: https://raymondsfolkpage.wordpress.co... • You can watch a playlist of my renditions of the Child ballads here: • http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list... • Lyrics and chords of many of my songs are no longer available, as my website has expired. I am currently posting lyrics to the information panels on all my videos and those that are too long to post in full will be found on my new website: https://raymondsfolkpage.wordpress.com

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