“Reynardine”

Description

A lady meets Reynardine (the singer for most of the song). He courts her while bidding her not to reveal his name. He says he has a castle in the forest and that she can reach him by calling him. He then vanishes (?); she warns women against such rakes

Supplemental text

Reynardine [Laws P15]
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

From the singing of the Gant Family of Austin, Texas. Recorded by
John and Alan Lomax, Library of Congress AAFS 67A2 (1934). Transcribed
by Lyle Lofgren.

As I rode out this morning,
Three miles from old Saint Croix,
I spied a farmer's daughter
Here on this mountain high.
Her ivory cheeks, her ruby lips,
Her face it looked so fair,
I said, "my pretty maiden,
I'm pleased to meet you here."

She said, "young man, be civil,
my company forsake;
I have a great opinion,
I fear you are some rake.
And if my parents should hear of this,
My life they would destroy,
For the keeping of bad company,
Here on this mountain high."

I said, "Kind miss, I am a bum,
Although I'm not to blame;
I'm begging for forgiveness,
All in the judge's name.
Your beauty has concerned me,
I cannot pass you by;
With my rifle I will guide you,
Here on this mountain high."

And then this pretty little thing,
She fell into a daze.
With eyes as bright as emeralds,
How fondly she did gaze.
She said, "young man, be civil,
And I will be your bride."
And then she fell into my arms
Here on this mountain high.

I had but kissed her once or twice,
Till she come to again,
And said to me so kindly,
"Kind sir, what is your name?"
"My name is nothing extry,
Although I'm sure you'll find,
Written down in Ancient History,
My name is Rhinordine."

Notes

Although the name "Rinordine" is pretty definitely the older and more traditional, I've used the title "Reynardine" because that seems more common today.

Some have tried to connect this song in some way to the tale of the crafty Reynard the Fox. None of the links strike me as successful, though of course Bold Reynard may have influenced the shift from "Rinordine" to "Reynardine." - RBW

Cross references

• cf. "The Shannon Side" (plot, lyrics)
• cf. "The Mountains of Pomeroy" (subject)

Broadsides

• Bodleian, 2806 c.8(310), "Reynardine," unknown, n.d.; also 2806 c.8(253), "Reynardine"

Recordings

• Anne Briggs "Reynardine" (on ESFB2, Briggs2, Briggs3)
• A. L. Lloyd, "Reynardine" (on Lloyd2, Lloyd3)

References

1. Laws P15, "Rinordine"
2. Belden, pp. 286-288, "Rinordine" (2 texts plus excerpts from 1 more)
3. Randolph 99, "Rinordine" (1 fragmentary text, 1 tune)
4. Chappell-FSRA 47, "Rinordine" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. Eddy 76, "Rinordine" (1 text)
6. Gardner/Chickering15 , Rinordine"" (1 confused text, 1 tune)
7. Combs/Wilgus 113, pp. 143-144, "Ryner Dyne" (1 text)
8. Huntington-Whalemen, pp. 222-223, "Rinordine" (1 text)
9. Creighton-Maritime, pp. 112-113, "Rinordine" (1 text, 1 tune)
10. Mackenzie 32, "Rinordine" (1 text)
11. Darling-NAS, pp. 138-139, "Reynardine" (1 text)
12. DT 341, REYNDINE* REYNDN2*
13. ST LP15 (Full)
14. Roud #397
15. BI, LP15