Jock Sheep There was a knight and a lady bright Set a true tryst to the broom; The tane to meet at twal o'clock The tither true at noon. When they cam to the gude greenwud He lichtly laid her doun; "O spare me now, kind sir," she says, "For spoilin' o' my goun." "Do ye na see my father's castle? It's guarded weel about And ye shall hae your wills o' me Therein, and no thairout." But when she cam to her father's yett Sae lichtly she lap doun She's shut the door behind her, Says, "Whistle o' your thumb!" "And whistle o' your thumb, Jock Sheep, And whistle o' your thumb, Sae stand ye there, Jock Sheep, she says, And whistle o' your thumb." "You're like a cock my father has He wears the double kaim He claps his wings but craws nane And I think ye are like him." "And whistle o' your thumb, Jock Sheep, And whistle o' your thumb, Sae stand ye there, Jock Sheep, she says, And whistle o' your thumb." "You're like a flower in my father's garden They ca't the marigold; And he that wadna whan he could He shanna when he wold." "And whistle o' your thumb, Jock Sheep, And whistle o' your thumb, Sae stand ye there, Jock Sheep, she says, And whistle o' your thumb." "You're like a steed my father has He's tethered on yon loan; He hangs his head out owre the mare But darena venture on." "And whistle o' your thumb, Jock Sheep, And whistle o' your thumb, Sae stand ye there, Jock Sheep, she says, And whistle o' your thumb." He's turned him right and round about, And swore he'd got the scorn; But he's to hae his wills o' her On Monday or the morn. He's taen a mantle him about wi' a cod* upon his wame*; And he's on to gude greenwud Like a lady in travelling. Then word's cum to her father's castle And thro' the ha' it's gane That there was a lady in gude greenwud And she was a-travelling. She's tane her mantle her about, Her key's out owre her arm; And she is gane to gude greenwud To see this lady wi' bairn. But when she cam to gude greenwud She saw nae lady there; But a knicht upon a milk-white steed Kaiming down his yellow hair. "Ye're welcome here, my dear," he says, "Ye're welcome here, my dow; Sin ye're sae trusty tae your tryst My dear ye sanna rue." He's taen her by the milk-white hand Sae lichtly laid her doon; And when he loot her up again Says, "Whistle o' your thumb." And whistle o' your thumb, Sae stand ye there, Jock Sheep, she says, And whistle o' your thumb." "Ye said I was like your father's cock He wore the double kaim He clapt his wings but craw'd nane And ye thocht I was like him." "And whistle o' your thumb, fair may, And whistle o' your thumb, Sae stand ye there, fair may," he says, And whistle o' your thumb." "Ye said I was like your father's flower They ca't the marigold; And he that wadna whan he could He shanna when he wold." "And whistle o' your thumb, fair may, And whistle o' your thumb, Sae stand ye there, fair may," he says, And whistle o' your thumb." "Ye said I was like your father's steed Was tethered on yon loan; He hung his head out owre the mare But I think he's ventured on." "Sae whistle o' your thumb, Jock Sheep, And whistle o' your thumb, Sae stand ye there, Jock Sheep, she says, And whistle o' your thumb." "O, had I staid in my father's castle And sew'd the silken seam! But sin you've taen your wills o' me You may conduct me hame." He's set her on his milk-white steed And took her to the ha'; Nae lord nor lady look'd sae blythe As them twa' mang them a'. Child #112 From The Ballad Book, Kinloch, 1827 Note: A considerably fuller version of the Baffled Knight RG
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!