| Riddles Wisely Expounded (Traditional - A Version of Child Ballad #1) Recording by Anais Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer There were three sisters in the north Lay the bend to the bonny broom And they lived in their mother's house And you'll beguile a lady soon There came a man one evening late Lay the bend... And he came knocking at the gate And you'll beguile... The eldest sister let him in And locked the door with a silver pin The second sister made his bed And laid soft pillows 'neath his head The youngest sister, fair and bright She lay beside him all through the night And in the morning, come the day She said, "Young man, will you marry me?" And he said, "Yes, I'll marry thee If you can answer this to me" "What is greener than the grass? And what is smoother than the glass?" "What is louder than a horn? And what is sharper than a thorn?" "What is deeper than the sea? And what is longer than the way?" "Envy's greener than the grass Flattery's smoother than the glass" "Rumor's louder than a horn Slander's sharper than a thorn" "Regret is deeper than the sea But love is longer than the way" The eldest sister rang the bell She rang it from the highest hill The second sister made the gown She sewed it of the silk so fine The youngest sister, true and wise They've made of her a lovely bride And now fair maids, I bid adieu These parting words I'll leave with you May you always constant prove Unto the one that you do love |
Jennifer Gentle or Riddles Wisely Expounded (Traditional - A Version of Child Ballad #1) Recording by Gordon Bok, Ann Mayo-Muir, & Ed Trickett There were three sisters, fair and bright, Jennifer gentle, fair Rosie Marie, Wanted to wed with a valiant Knight As the dew flies over the mulberry tree. The eldest sister took him in, Also bolted the silver pin. The second sister made his bed, Placed the pillow right under his head. But the youngest sister, fair and bright, Wanted to wed with the valiant knight. Well, if you will answer my questions three, Then, fair maid, I would marry thee. Oh, what is whiter than the milk? What is softer than the silk? Oh, snow is whiter than the silk; Down is softer than the silk. And what is sharper than the thorn? What is louder than the horn? Oh, hunger is sharper than the thorn, Thunder's louder than the horn. And what is broader than the way? What is deeper than the sea. Oh, love is broader than the way; Hell is deeper than the sea. Well, now you've answered my questions three; Now, fair maid, I would marry thee. |
The Devil's Nine Questions Another Version of Child #1 Recording by Oscar Brand & Jean Ritchie If you don't answer my questions nine Sing ninety-nine and ninety, I'll take you off to hell alive, And you are the weaver's bonny. What is whiter than milk? Sing ninety-nine and ninety; What is softer than silk? Say you're the weaver's bonny." Snow is whiter than milk, Sing ninety-nine and ninety; Down is softer than silk, And I'm the weaver's bonny." What is louder than a horn? Sing ninety-nine and ninety; What is sharper than a thorn? Sing I am the weaver's bonny. Thunder's louder than a horn, Sing ninety-nine and ninety ; Death is sharper than a thorn, Sing I'm the weaver's bonny. What is higher than a tree? Sing ninety-nine and ninety; What is deeper than the sea? Sing I'm the weaver's bonny. Heaven's higher than a tree, Sing ninety-nine and ninety; And hell is deeper than the sea, Sing I'm the weaver's bonny. What is innocenter than a lamb? Sing ninety-nine and ninety; What is worse than woman kind? Say I'm the weaver's bonny. A babe is innocenter than a lamb, Sing ninety-nine and ninety; The devil's worse than woman kind, Sing I'm the weaver's bonny." You have answered me questions nine, Sing ninety-nine and ninety; You are God's, you're not mine, And you're the weaver's bonny." |
| Captain Wedderburn's Courtship Recording by "Great Big Sea" CHILD BALLAD #46 A noblemen's fair daughter Came down a narrow lane. And met with Captain Wederburn, The keeper of the game Now my pretty fair miss If it wasn't for the law, You and I in the bed might lie Roll me over next to the wall Roll me over next to the wall Now, my dear good man, she said Do not be perplexed Before that you might bed with me You must answer questions six. Six questions you must answer me, And I will ask them all And you and I in the bed might lie Roll me over next to the wall Roll me over next to the wall What is rounder than a ring, And higher than the trees? And what is worse than a woman's curse, And what is deeper than the sea? What bird sings first, which one's best? Where does the dew first fall? And you and I in a bed might lie Roll me over next to the wall Roll me over next to the wall The earth is rounder than a ring, And heaven is higher than the trees, The devil curse is worse than a woman's curse, And hell in deeper than the sea The lark sings first, the thrush sings best, Earth is where the dew falls And you and I in a bed might lie Roll me over next to the wall You and I in the bed might lie Roll me over next to the wall Roll me over next to the wall He takes her by her lily-white hand And leads her down the hall And he takes her by her slender waist For fear that she might fall And he lays her on a bed of down Without a doubt at all And he and she lie in one bed Roll me over next to the wall And she and he lie in one bed Roll me over next to the wall Roll me over next to the wall Roll me over next to the wall. |
I Gave My Love a Cherry; or the Riddle Song || (Traditional Appalachian version 330 in the Roud Folk Song Index) Recording by Doc Watson "Animal House" Rendition I gave my love a cherry That had no stone I gave my love a chicken That had no bone I gave my love a rare ring That had no end I gave my love a baby With no crying. How can there be a cherry That has no stone? And how can there be a chicken That has no bone? And how can there be a ring That has no end? And how can there be a baby With no crying? A cherry when it's blooming It has no stone A chicken when it's pipping It has no bone A ring when it's rolling It has no end A baby when it's sleeping It's no crying. |
Tumbalalaika (Traditional Jewish Song) A young lad stands, and he thinks Thinks and thinks the whole night through Whom to take and not to shame Whom to take and not to shame ((chorus)) Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika Tumbalalaika, strum balalaika Tumbalalaika, may we be happy Girl, girl, I want to ask of you What can grow, grow without rain? What can burn and never end? What can yearn, cry without tears? ((chorus)) Foolish lad, why do you have to ask? A stone can grow, grow without rain Love can burn and never end A heart can yearn, cry without tears ((chorus)) What is higher than a house? What is swifter than a mouse? What is deeper than a well? What is bitter, more bitter than gall? ((chorus)) A chimney is higher than a house A cat is swifter than a mouse The Torah is deeper than a well Death is bitter, more bitter than gall |