Rambling Bachelors
From the singing of Carrie Milliner and the Bobbin
Family.
Rambling Bachelor
(Traditional)
Arranged by Chloe and Jason Roweth.
Traditional English ballad collected from many of the extended family, including cousin Max Walker and Aunt Lil. Carrie associates the song with her cousin Alby Bobbin, who learnt this very big ballad from his father Leaton at the age of seven! This song has everything; romance, jealousy, murder, suicide - and cross-dressing.
Come all you rambling bachelors and roving boys beware,
Listen to my lamentation, the truth I do declare.
It's concerning two young lovers, who were both bound down with love;
To taste the joys of wedlock, til fortune proved unkind.
There was James Conroy a farmer's son, I'll write his tragedy,
He courted lovely Betsy, the pride of Abigail.
But he was tempted to jealousy, and bound down in an oath,
That they'd live and love together, 'til death should part them both.
Then Betsy wrote a letter, and sent it to her love,
She desired him to meet her, one evening in the grove.
But little did she ever think, the thoughts run through his breast,
She appeared in men's apparel, so gaily she was dressed.
Then when he saw her coming, he cried out most severe,
"Here comes my brother Johnny, to meet my true love here."
Now quickly I'll deceive him, his butcher I will be,
He never shall enjoy her, nor live to trouble me.
From the ground he rose a pistol well loaded in his hand,
He fired at his brother, as you may understand.
It was at his love he fired the shot, which caused her downfall,
And in her tender bosom, he lodged a fatal ball.
She cried out, "Cruel Jimmy," as she lay upon the ground,
"Now come and see your Betsy die, it was you that gave the wound."
Then when he saw her dying, he raved and tore his hair,
Another bullet for himself, he quickly did prepare.
He shot himself, saying, "Betsy, I die for love of thee"
Let all young men take warning of cursed jealousy.