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King William's Son

from Dear Balladeer by Forest Mountain Hymnal

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lyrics

King William's Son (Niles No. 4B) - Collected Summer 1936 from an elderly woman who wished to be unnamed, western North Carolina

Of all the sons King William had,
Prince Jamie was the worst,
And what made the sorrow even more,
Prince Jamie was the first.

He sang his song to Isabel,
A song like none did sing,
And she did follow him away,
A very silly thing.

They wandered over hill and dale,
They came upon the sea,
"Light down, light down, fair Isabel,
And give your clothes to me."

"Hit's turn, oh turn your head away,
And look at yonder sea.
I do not wish to have it said
I let you see my bare body.

"Oh turn, oh turn your head away,
Behold the yon seaside,
And do not look this way a bit
Or you'll see me in my hide."*

And as he stood a-waiting
And a-looking o'er the lea,
She grabbed him by his slender hips
And pitched him in the sea.

"Oh save me, save me from this death,
And when the King is dead,
I will be King Jamie
And you'll be queen instead."

"If you could lie to nine young maids,
You'll lie as quick to me,
But soon the fish will eat your meat
Instead of eating me."

She mounted quick the dapple gray,
And then she led the black
Across the fields and pastures,
A-homing she rode back.

"Where have you been and what have you done,
Your horse is all a-sweat?
Your father looked the castle o'er
And hasn't found you yet."

"If you would only hold your tongue,
You'll never have to lie.
My father ne'er must ever know
How near I come to die.

"No talk, no talk, my pretty poll,
It be the break of day."
"The cat was at my cage's door,
And you shooed her away."

"Well said, my parrot bird, well said,
No cat shall bother thee,
And thy cage shall be made of beaten gold
Instead of the willow tree."

*In describing the elderly woman who sang him this ballad, Niles mentions that "In spite of all her troubles, she had a great sense of humor and was ready to laugh at almost everything, including herself... She used the word 'hide' in "King William's Son" -- possibly for the sake of rhyme, but more probably, I think, for humor's sake" (Ballad Book, pg. 28) I love watching the singers' personalities sneak into the ballad!

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from Dear Balladeer, released January 1, 2015

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Forest Mountain Hymnal Nashville, Tennessee

Forest Mountain Hymnal (Jonathan and Rebecca Moody) is the result of our passion for folk music, fables, and the natural world in which we grew up, both in Nashville, Tennessee and Sewanee, Tennessee at the University of the South. We hope, with our music, to celebrate love, nature, peace, and community. ... more

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