Yorkshire Garland
 

What is that blood on thy shirtsleeve ?

 
Performed by:
Frank Hinchliffe
Recorded in:
Crosspool, Sheffield
Recorded on:
01/07/1976
Recorded by:
Mike Yates and Ruairidh Greig
Genre:
Crime
Keywords:
Children,
Family,
Murder
 

Archival information

TYG:
35
Key:
B
Time Signature:
4/4 and various
Roud id:
200
Laws id:
Master title:
Edward
Places Cited:

Lyrics

1
“What is that blood on thy shirt sleeve,
My son, come tell it unto me.”
“’Tis the blood of my dear brother,
Who I killed under yonder tree,
Who I killed under yonder tree.”

2
“What did thou kill thy dear brother for,
My son, come tell it unto me.”
“Because he shot the three little pretty birds,
That flew from tree to tree,
That flew from tree to tree.”

3
“What will thou do when thy father comes home,
My son, come tell it unto me.”
“I’ll plant my foot on board a ship,
And sail across the sea,
And sail across the sea.”

4
“What will thou do with thy children three,
My son, come tell it unto me.”
“I will leave them in my good old father’s care,
To keep him company,
To keep him company.”

5
“What will thou do with thy dear wife,
My son, come tell it unto me.”
“She will plant her foot on board a ship,
And sail along with me,
And sail along with me.”

6
“When shall I see thy good old face again,
My son, come tell it unto me.”
“When the fish they fly and the seas run dry,
And that will never never be,
And that will never never be.”

Sung by Frank Hinchliffe on the LP In Sheffield Park, Traditional Songs from South Yorkshire. Child 13.

Archival information

TYG:
35
Key:
B
Time Signature:
4/4 and various
Roud id:
200
Laws id:
Master title:
Edward
Places Cited: