Hughie Grame

Originale

La versione di Ewan MacColl e Peggy Seeger, trovata su Traditional...

HUGHIE GRAME As it befell upon one time, About mid-summer of the year, Every man was taxt of his crime, For stealing the good Lord Bishop's mare. The good Lord Screw he sadled a horse, And rid after this same scrime; Before he did get over the moss, There was he aware of Sir Hugh of the Grime. 'Turn, O turn, thou false traytor, Turn, and yield thyself unto me; Thou hast stolen the Lord Bishops mare, And now thou thinkest away to flee.' 'No, soft, Lord Screw, that may not be! Here is a broad sword by my side, And if that thou canst conquer me, The victory will soon be try'd.' 'I ner was afraid of a traytor bold, Although thy name be Hugh in the Grime; I'le make thee repent thy speeches foul, If day and life but give me time.' 'Then do thy worst, good Lord Screw, And deal your blows as fast as you can; It will be try'd between me and you Which of us two shall be the best man.' Thus as they dealt their blows so free, And both so bloody at that time, Over the moss ten yeomen they see, Come for to take Sir Hugh in the Grime. Sir Hugh set his back against a tree, And then the men encompast him round; His mickle sword from his hand did flee, And then they brought Sir Hugh to the ground. Sir Hugh of the Grime now taken is And brought back to Garlard town; [Then cry'd] the good wives all in Garlard town, 'Sir Hugh in the Grime, thou 'st ner gang down. ' The good Lord Bishop is come to the town, And on the bench is set so high; And every man was taxt to his crime, At length he called Sir Hugh in the Grime. 'Here am I, thou false bishop, Thy humours all to fulfill; I do not think my fact so great But thou mayst put it into thy own will.' The quest of jury-men was calld, The best that was in Garlard town; Eleven of them spoke all in a breast, 'Sir Hugh in the Grime, thou 'st ner gang down. ' Then another questry-men was calld, The best that was in Rumary; Twelve of them spoke all in a breast, 'Sir Hugh in the Grime, thou'st now guilty.' Then came down my good Lord Boles, Falling down upon his knee: 'Five hundred peices of gold would I give, To grant Sir Hugh in the Grime to me.' 'Peace, peace, my good Lord Boles, And of your speeches set them by! If there be eleven Grimes all of a name, Then by my own honour they all should dye.' Then came down my good Lady Ward, Falling low upon her knee: 'Five hundred measures of gold I'le give, To grant Sir Hugh of the Grime to me.' 'Peace, peace, my good Lady Ward, None of your proffers shall him buy! For if there be twelve Grimes all of a name, By my own honour they all should dye.' Sir Hugh of the Grime's condemnd to dye, And of his friends he had no lack; Fourteen foot he leapt in his ward, His hands bound fast upon his back. Then he lookt over his left shoulder, To see whom he could see or spy; Then was he aware of his father dear, Came tearing his hair most pittifully. 'Peace, peace, my father dear, And of your speeches set them by! Though they have bereavd me of my life, They cannot bereave me of heaven so high.' He lookt over his right shoulder, To see whom he could see or spye; There was he aware of his mother dear, Came tearing her hair most pittifully. 'Pray have me remembred to Peggy, my wife; As she and I walkt over the moor, She was the cause of [the loss of] my life, And with the old bishop she plaid the whore. 'Here, Johnny Armstrong, take thou my sword, That is made of the mettle so fine, And when thou comst to the border-side, Remember the death of Sir Hugh of the Grime.

HUGHIE GRAME (or HUGHIE THE GRAEME) The Laird o' Hume he's a huntin' gone Over the hills and mountains clear, And he has ta'en Sir Hugh the Grame For stealin' o' the Bishop's mear. Tay ammarey, O Londonderry Tay ammarey, O London dee. They hae ta'en Sir Hugh the Grame And led him doon through Strievling toon, Fifteen o' them cried oot at ance, "Sir Hugh the Grame he must gae doon!" Tay ammarey, O Londonderry Tay ammarey, O London dee. "Were I to die," said Hugh the Grame "My parents would think it a very great lack" Full fifteen feet in the air he jumped Wi' his hands bound fast behind his back. Tay ammarey, O Londonderry Tay ammarey, O London dee. Then oot and spak the Lady Black, And o' her will she was right free, "A thousand pounds, my lord, I'll give If Hugh the Grame set free to me." "Haud your tongue, ye Lady Black And ye'll let a' your pleading be! Though ye would gie me thousands ten It's for my honour he would die." Tay ammarey, O Londonderry Tay ammarey, O London dee. Then oot it spak her Lady Hume And aye a sorry woman was she, "I'll gie ye a hundred milk-white steeds Gin ye'll gie Sir Hugh the Grame to me." Tay ammarey, O Londonderry Tay ammarey, O London dee. "O Haud your tongue, ye Lady Hume And ye'll let a' your pleading be! Though a' the Grames were in this court, He should be hanged high for me." Tay ammarey, O Londonderry Tay ammarey, O London dee. He lookit ower his left shoulder It was to see what he could see, And there he saw his auld faither Weeping and wailing bitterly. Tay ammarey, O Londonderry Tay ammarey, O London dee. "O, haud your tongue, my auld faither And ye'll let a' your mournin' be! For if they bereave me o' my life They canna haud the heavens frae me." Tay ammarey, O Londonderry Tay ammarey, O London dee. "You'll gie my brother, John, the sword That's pointed with the metal clear, And bid him come at eight o'clock And see me pay the Bishop'e mear." Tay ammarey, O Londonderry Tay ammarey, O London dee. "And brother James, tak' here the sword That's pointed wi' the metal brown Come up the morn at eight o'clock And see your brother putten down." Tay ammarey, O Londonderry Tay ammarey, O London dee. Ye'll tell this news to Maggie, my wife Neist time ye gang to Strievling toon, She is the cause I lose my life She wi' the Bishop played the loon. Tay ammarey, O Londonderry Tay ammarey, O London dee.