Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Thanks to the Pixelated Poet (@Thepixelatedpoet0421) for suggesting this topic on #Filkhaven
I had to stew for a few days on the topic, and was going to wait until tomorrow, but this was one of those songs that wouldn't wait.
These events occur at the beginning of Malory, Chapter 2:
gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1251/pg1251-images.html#chap02
Thumbnail by N. C. Wyeth for The Boy's King Arthur (1880).
#Arthurian #Igraine #FAWM
Purchase my music:
ozfolklounge.bandcamp.com
Website (Lyrics and Chords):
folklounge.org/lyrics-and-chords
Thanks to the Pixelated Poet (@Thepixelatedpoet0421) for suggesting this topic on #Filkhaven
I had to stew for a few days on the topic, and was going to wait until tomorrow, but this was one of those songs that wouldn't wait.
These events occur at the beginning of Malory, Chapter 2:
gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1251/pg1251-images.html#chap02
Thumbnail by N. C. Wyeth for The Boy's King Arthur (1880).
#Arthurian #Igraine #FAWM
Purchase my music:
ozfolklounge.bandcamp.com
Website (Lyrics and Chords):
folklounge.org/lyrics-and-chords
![St Stephen and Herod [ Child Ballad No. 22 ]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/T5_-M1ZcSH0/mqdefault.jpg "St Stephen and Herod [ Child Ballad No. 22 ]
Obviously some confusion between this story of a servant in Herods court vs the Martyr St. Stephen (who wasnt yet born):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephen
Of course, they may well have both existed and being stoned, especially with all that ryche wede around.
Entry in Child:
https://archive.org/details/englishandscotti01chiluoft/page/n253/mode/2up
Painting is Herods Banquet by Filippo Lippi.
Attempt at making this singable in English is my own:
Saint Stephen was a servant in king Herod’s hall,
And served at his table, good meat and bread all.
He came from the kitchen with the head of a boar,
When up in the night sky, a bright star he saw,
He cast done the boars head, and ran to the hall,
I forsake king Herod, and his evil deeds all,
I forsake king Herod, a man of great sin,
For Bethlehem’s Child, will new world begin,
What aileth thee Stephen, and what befalls thee,
Have you lacked meat or drink in the hall here with me?
I lacked no meat or drink in the hall of the King,
But a child has been born who will change everything’
What aileth thee Stephen, hast though lost your mine,
Do you lack gold or wages, or spices so fine,
I lack not gold or wages, I’ve spices indeed,
But Bethlehem’s child will give what we need,
If that is true Stephen, and if it be so,
The cock in my dish, will arise now and crow,
He’d no sooner spoken, that word in the hall,
The cock crew Christ’s come now unto the lords all,
Rise up now my soldiers by two and by one,
And lead Stephen out at the set of the sun,
And stone him, and stone him until he be dead,
Now Christmas Day echoes what Saint Stephen said,
My second album of Child Balalds is out:
https://ozfolklounge.bandcamp.com/album/cruel-mothers")
