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Folk​-​Lore

by Xisco Rojo

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1.
Katie Cruel 04:08
When I first came to town They called me the roving jewel Now they changed their tune Call me the Katie Cruel Through the woods I run Through the bogs and mire Straight way down the road And to my heart's desire If I was where I would be Then I'd be where I am not This here where I must be Where I would be, I cannot When I first came to town They bought me drinks of plenty Now they've changed their tune And hand me the bottles empty When I first came to town They called me the roving jewel Now they changed their tune Call me the Katie Cruel If I was where I would be Then I'd be where I am not This here where I must be Where I would be, I cannot
2.
When I was in service in Rosemary Lane I won the goodwill of my master Amberdine Till a sailor came by one night to lay And that was the beginning of my misery I asked for a candle to light me to bed And likewise a silk handkerchief to tie up my hair To tie up my hair the way sailors will do And third my pretty Polly won't you come too Now this may seem young and foolish I thought it no harm To climb into bed to keep myself warm And what was done there I shall never disclose But I wish that short night had been seven long years So early next morning I gently arose And into her apron three guineas did throw Saying this I will give and more I will do If you'll be my Polly wherever I go Now if it's a boy he will fight for the king And if it's a girl she will wear a gold ring Wear a gold ring and a dress all aflame And remember your service in Rosemary Lane
3.
Matty Groves 06:34
A holiday, a holiday, and the first one of the year Lord Donald's wife came into the church, the gospel word to hear And when the meeting it was done, she turned her eyes about And there she saw little Matty Groves, walking in the crowd "Come home with me, little Matty Groves, come home with me tonight Come home with me, little Matty Groves, and sleep with me till light" "Oh, I can't come home, I won't come home and sleep with you tonight For the rings on your fingers I can tell you are my master's wife" "What if I am Lord Donald's wife, Lord Donald's not at home He is out in the far cornfields bringing the yearlings home" And a servant who was standing by and hearing what was said He swore Lord Donald he would know before the sun would set And in his hurry to carry the news, he bent his breast and ran And when he came to the broad millstream, he took off his shoes and swam Little Matty Groves, he lay down and took a little sleep When he awoke, Lord Donald was standing at his feet Saying "How do you like my feather bed and how do you like my sheets How do you like my lady who lies in your arms asleep?" "Oh, well I like your feather bed and well I like your sheets But better I like your lady gay who lies in my arms asleep" "Well, get up, get up, " Lord Donald cried, "get up as quick as you can It'll never be said in fair England that I slew a naked man" "Oh, I can't get up, I won't get up, I can't get up for my life For you have two long beaten swords and I not a pocket knife" "Well it's true I have two beaten swords and they cost me deep in the purse But you will have the better of them and I will have the worse And you will strike the very first blow and strike it like a man I will strike the very next blow and I'll kill you if I can" So Matty struck the very first blow and he hurt Lord Donald sore Lord Donald struck the very next blow and Matty struck no more And then Lord Donald he took his wife and sat her on his knee Saying "Who do you like the best of us, Matty Groves or me?" And then up spoke his own dear wife, never dared to speak so free "I'd rather a kiss from dead Matty's lips than you or your finery" Lord Donald he jumped up and loudly he did bawl He struck his wife right through the heart and pinned her against the wall "A grave, a grave, " Lord Donald cried, "to put these lovers in But bury my lady at the top for she was of noble kin"
4.
There were three ravens sat on a tree, Down a down hey down hey down. They were as black as black might be, With a down. Then one of them said to his mate: "Where shall we our breakfast take?" With a down derry derry derry down down. Down in yonder greenfield, Down a down hey down hey down. There lies a knight slain under his shield; With a down. His hounds they lie down at his feet, So well they their master keep. With a down derry derry derry down down. His hawks they fly so eagerly, Down a down hey down hey down. There is no fowl dare him come nigh With a down. But down there comes a fallow doe, As great with young as she might go. With a down derry derry derry down down. She lifted up his wounded head, Down a down hey down hey down. And kissed the wounds that were so red. With a down. She got him up upon her back And carried him to an earthen lake. With a down derry derry derry down down. She buried him before the prime, Down a down hey down hey down. She was dead herself ere evensong time. With a down. God send every gentleman Such hawks, such hounds and such a leman. With a down derry derry derry down down.
5.
I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger Traveling through this world below There's no sickness, no toil, no danger In that bright land to which I go I'm going there to see my father And all my loved ones, who've gone on I'm just going over Jordan I'm just going over home I know dark clouds will gather 'round me I know my way is hard and steep But beauteous fields arise before me Where God's redeemed their vigils keep I'm going there to see my mother She said she'd meet me when I come I'm going over Jordan I'm just going over home
6.
Don't sing love songs, you'll wake my mother She's sleeping here, right by my side And in her right hand a silver dagger She says that I can't be your bride "All men are false", says my mother "They'll tell you wicked, lovin' lies The very next evening they'll court another Leave you alone to pine and sigh" My daddy is a handsome devil He's got a chain five miles long And on every link a heart does dangle Of another maid he's loved and wronged Go, court another tender maiden And hope that she will be your wife For I've been warned and I've decided To sleep alone all of my life
7.
Kempy Kay 04:47
Kempy Kay's to the wooing gone Far, far across the sea And he has met with an old old man His father-in-law to be. “Good day, good day,” cries Kempy Kay. “Good day good day,” cries he. “I've come your daughter's love to win Do you think she could love me?” The father came unto the door And he's peeped through the key-hole And there he saw his daughter Jean Was sitting amongst the coal. Every nail upon her hand Was like an iron rake. The space between her nose and mouth With dirt was thickly caked. “Rise up, rise up, you filthy slut And wash your foul face clean. For your wooer will be here this night, And your body's to be seen.” Then up she rose, put on her clothes And washed her foul face clean. She cursed the hands and banned the feet That brought no water in. So they scraped her and they scrubbed her Like the face of a rusty pan Till Kempy Kay himself came in, A clever and tall young man. His teeth they were like tethering sticks His nose was five foot long. Between his shoulders was nine yards broad And between his eyes a span. Every hair upon his head Was like a heather cow, And every louse that looked out Was like a crooked ewe. He gave to her a gay cravat; “Twas of an old horse-shit. He gave to her a gay gold ring; 'Twas of an old tree root. She thanked him once she thanked him twice She thanked him over again. “I've never had a ring in all my life, But this night I have got one.” He's taken her in his two arms And kissed her, cheek and chin “I've never been kissed in all my life, But this night got many in.” These lovers' bed it was well made And at their hearts' desire; These lovers' bed it was well made Beside the kitchen fire. The covering was a clouted cloak. It served these lovers well. And at their head a knocking stone And at their feet a mell. And each of the eyes in her true love's head Was like a rotten plum. And the drops that fell from her two eyes Would make a mill wheel turn. The skin upon this lady's breast Was like a saffron sack And aye his hands were tearing at The scabs upon her back. The scabs she had upon her arse He tore off with his hand. The clumps of dirt that hung from them Would have mucked an acre of land. And how they kissed and how they hugged And how they kissed their fill And the slaver that hung between their mouths Would have tethered a ten-year-old bull.
8.
Oh the cuckoo is a pretty bird She warbles as she flies She brings us glad tidings And tells us no lies She sucks on pretty flowers To make her voice clear But she never sings a cuckoo ′Til the spring of the year Come all you young women Take warning by me Never place your kind affections On the love of a man For the roots, they will wither And branches decay He'll turn his back upon you And walk square away A meeting, it′s a pleasure And parting is a grief While an inconstant lover Is worse than a thief A thief he'll butter up you And take what you have While an inconstant lover Will lead you to your grave Oh the cuckoo is a pretty bird She warbles as she flies She brings us glad tidings And tells us no lies
9.
Tam Lin 07:14
Oh I forbid you maidens all That wear gold in your hair To come or go by Carterhall For young Tam Lin is there. Tam Lin went awalking one bright morning Across the hills so green And he cared nothing for where he'd go Nor nothing for where he'd been And he's passed over the little foot bridge And down to Carterhall Witrh steps so wide he passes by You'd think he owned it all So swiftly did the waters flow As he came down beside And you must go and greet him there For now's no time to hide Oh I forbid you maidens all Who wear gold in your hair To come or go by Carterhall For young Tam Lin is there As he stood so still by the church yard wall He spied his lady fair And they surely knew that they must live And love without a care Oh pleasant is the fairy land But an eerie tale to tell But at the end of seven years We pay a tithe to hell I am so young and fair of face I'm feared it will be myself She had not pulled a double rose A rose but only two When up then started young Tam Lin Says "think what you mean to do" Oh Why you pull the rose, Janet Among the groves so green? You must not kill the bonny babe That we got us between Up spoke the queen of the fairy land And an angry woman was she She's taken away the bonniest knight In all my company And adieu Tam Lin, but had I known The secrets in your mind I would have picked out your two fine eyes And left you beggar blind
10.
Golden slumbers kiss your eyes, Smiles await you when you rise. Sleep, pretty baby, do not cry, And I will sing a lullaby. Cares you know not, therefore sleep, While over you a watch I'll keep. Sleep, pretty darling, do not cry, And I will sing a lullaby. Golden slumbers kiss your eyes, Smiles await you when you rise. Sleep, pretty baby, do not cry, And I will sing a lullaby.

about

All songs are traditional folk tunes passed down through generations via oral tradition

credits

released June 29, 2023

Music recomposed & arranged by Xisco Rojo / Traditional lyrics

Recorded between May and October 2022 by Xisco Rojo at Sauerland Studios & Recording Co.

Mixed and mastered by Xisco Rojo

Cover photo & design by Xisco Rojo

PERSONNEL

Xisco Rojo: Voice, 6 & 12-string acoustic & electric guitars, bass, piano, Portuguese guitar, Spanish guitar, hurdy-gurdy, Greek baglamas, mountain dulcimer, baritone acoustic guitar, banjo, violin, viola, electric lap steel guitar, Arabic oud, charango, mandolin, Marxophone, cymbalom, harp, celesta, harpsichord, accordion, toy piano, English horn, French oboe, piccolo, tenor recorder, trumpet, tuba, trombone, Prophet V3, Arp 2600 V, Korg MS-20, Buchla Easel V, Ondes Martenot, synthesizers, singing glass, bagpipes, drums, electronic drums, ready-made percussion, shakers, sleigh bells, chajchas, frame drum, tambourine, castanets, handclaps, tape sound processing

Alondra Bentley: Vocals (2, 10), fairy choir (9)
Vaz Oliver: Sitar (8) & vocals (8, 10)
Luis Mármol: Empty cans, tabla & frame drums (1), djembe (4)
Eloy Platas ‘Lume’: Tambourine & shells (9)

Holy Hoof Records, 2023

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Xisco Rojo Madrid, Spain

Xisco Rojo is a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who creates a music halfway between chamber folk, primitivism, sound art and experimentation.
hola@xiscorojo.com

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