Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Bold Lamkin / Bolakins / Beau Lamkins / Bo Lamkin / Long Lankin / Long Langkin / Cruel Lincoln / False Lanky / False Lamkin / Lambkin / False Lamkins / False Lampkins / Squire Relantman / Lammikin / False Lankum / Lamkin (Child No. 93) - Sung by Mrs. Mary Mushrow of Cape Ray, Port aux Basques, Newfoundland, Canada. Recorded by MacEdward Leach in 1950.
Song transcription:
...to the lady, "Now I'm going away.
Beware of proud Lamkin for he's coming this way."
"What do I care for Lamkin or any of his men,
For my doors they are bolted and my windows brassed in."
They had not been sleeping for but an hour or more,
When proud Lamkin he come and he knocked on the door.
"Oh where is your mistress, your mistress," he cried.
"She is up in her chamber," cried that hard-hearted maid.
"Oh mistress, dear mistress, how can you sleep fast
When your son young Jonathan is breathing his last?"
"How can I come downstairs," she cried, "on this cold winter's night,
With no fire in to warm me or no candle to light?"
"There are two woollen sheets," she cried, "as white as the snow,
And I pray you'll come down by the light of those two."
As she was coming down the stairs not thinking any harm
When Sir Lamkin he caught her and he held her in his arms.
"Come spare me my life," she cried, "until twelve o'clock
I will give you my daughter Betsy although she is my pride."
"Where is your daughter Betsy, go bring her to me.
She may hold the silver basin till your heart's blood runs free."
There was blood in the kitchen, there was blood in the hall,
But the blood in the cradle was the worst blood of all.
Proud Lamkin was then taken up and condemned to die
And the false-hearted servant was burned in the fire nearby.
The recording can be listened to here:
mmap.mun.ca/folk-songs-of-atlantic-canada/performances/257
Bold Lamkin / Bolakins / Beau Lamkins / Bo Lamkin / Long Lankin / Long Langkin / Cruel Lincoln / False Lanky / False Lamkin / Lambkin / False Lamkins / False Lampkins / Squire Relantman / Lammikin / False Lankum / Lamkin (Child No. 93) - Sung by Mrs. Mary Mushrow of Cape Ray, Port aux Basques, Newfoundland, Canada. Recorded by MacEdward Leach in 1950.
Song transcription:
...to the lady, "Now I'm going away.
Beware of proud Lamkin for he's coming this way."
"What do I care for Lamkin or any of his men,
For my doors they are bolted and my windows brassed in."
They had not been sleeping for but an hour or more,
When proud Lamkin he come and he knocked on the door.
"Oh where is your mistress, your mistress," he cried.
"She is up in her chamber," cried that hard-hearted maid.
"Oh mistress, dear mistress, how can you sleep fast
When your son young Jonathan is breathing his last?"
"How can I come downstairs," she cried, "on this cold winter's night,
With no fire in to warm me or no candle to light?"
"There are two woollen sheets," she cried, "as white as the snow,
And I pray you'll come down by the light of those two."
As she was coming down the stairs not thinking any harm
When Sir Lamkin he caught her and he held her in his arms.
"Come spare me my life," she cried, "until twelve o'clock
I will give you my daughter Betsy although she is my pride."
"Where is your daughter Betsy, go bring her to me.
She may hold the silver basin till your heart's blood runs free."
There was blood in the kitchen, there was blood in the hall,
But the blood in the cradle was the worst blood of all.
Proud Lamkin was then taken up and condemned to die
And the false-hearted servant was burned in the fire nearby.
The recording can be listened to here:
mmap.mun.ca/folk-songs-of-atlantic-canada/performances/257
