“The Northumberland Bagpipes”

Description

"A shepherd sat him under a thorn, He pulled out his pipes and began for to play, It was on a midsummer's day in the morn." A girl comes by, hears him piping, and declares, "Iy thou wilt pipe, lad, I'll dance to thee."

Supplemental text

Northumberland Bagpipes, The
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

From Stokoe/Reay, Songs and Ballads of Northern England, pp. 32-34.
Stanza 1.

A shepherd sat him under a thorn,
  He pulled out his pipes and began for to play,
It was on a midsummer day in the morn,
  In honour of that holiday.
A ditty he did chant along,
  That goes to the tune of "Cater Bordee,"
And this was the burden of his song,
  "If thou wilt pipe, lad, I'll dance to thee;
      To thee, to thee, derry, derry, to thee;
        To thee, to thee, derry, derry, to thee;
      And this was the burden of his song,
        "If thou wilt pipe, lad, I'll dance to thee."

And while his harmony he did make,
  A country damsel from the town,
A basket on her arm she had,
  A gathering rushes from the down;
Her bongrace was of wended straw,
  From the sun's beams her face to free,
And thus she began when she him saw --
  If thou wilt pipe, lad, I'll dance to thee;
      To thee, to thee, etc.

Same tune

• March Boyes (per broadside NLScotland, Ry.III.a.10(060))

Cross references

• cf. "Maggie Lauder" (theme)

Broadsides

• NLScotland, Ry.III.a.10(060), "The Merry Bagpipes," unknown, 1701

References

1. Stokoe/Reay, pp. 32-34, "The Northumberland Bagpipes" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. ST StoR032 (Full)
3. Roud #3055
4. BI, StoR032