The English and Scottish Popular Ballads :: :: University of Virginia Library

Macmath MS. p. 74. “From the singing of Miss Jane Webster, 15th October, 1886, and 26th August, 1887, who learned it at Airds of Kells, Kirkcudbrightshire, many years ago, from James McJannet.”

1

There leeved a wee man at the fit o yon hill,
John Blunt it was his name, O
And he selld liquor and ale o the best,
And bears a wondrous fame. O
Tal lara ta lilt, tal lare a lilt,
Tal lara ta lilt, tal lara

2

The wind it blew frae north to south,
It blew into the floor;
Says auld John Blunt to Janet the wife,
Ye maun rise up and bar the door.

3

‘My hans are in my husseyskep,
I canna weel get them free,
And if ye dinna bar it yersel
It'll never be barred by me.’

4

They made it up atween them twa,
They made it unco sure,
That the ane that spoke the foremost word
Was to rise and bar the door.

5

There was twa travellers travelling late,
Was travelling cross the muir,
And they cam unto wee John Blunt's,
Just by the light o the door.

6

‘O whether is this a rich man's house,
Or whether is it a puir?’
But never a word would the auld bodies speak,
For the barring o the door.

7

First they bad good een to them,
And syne they bad good morrow;
But never a word would the auld bodies speak,
For the barring o the door, O.

8

First they ate the white puddin,
And syne they ate the black,
And aye the auld wife said to hersel,
May the deil slip down wi that!

9

And next they drank o the liquor sae strong,
And syne they drank o the yill:
‘And since we hae got a house o our ain
I'm sure we may tak our fill.’

10

It's says the ane unto the ither,
Here, man, tak ye my knife,
An ye'll scrape aff the auld man's beard,
While I kiss the gudewife.

11

‘Ye hae eaten my meat, ye hae drucken my drink,
Ye'd make my auld wife a whore!’
‘John Blunt, ye hae spoken the foremost word,
Ye maun rise up and bar the door.’

Johnie Blunt

GET UP AND BAR THE DOOR—C

[_]

Johnson's Museum, IV, 376, No 365, 1792. Contributed by Robert Burns.

1

There livd a man in yonder glen,
And John Blunt was his name; O
He maks gude maut and he brews gude ale,
And he bears a wondrous fame. O

2

The wind blew in the hallan ae night,
Fu snell out oer the moor;
‘Rise up, rise up, auld Luckie,’ he says,
‘Rise up, and bar the door.’

3

They made a paction tween them twa,
They made it firm and sure,
Whaeer sud speak the foremost word
Should rise and bar the door.

4

Three travellers that had tint their gate,
As thro the hills they foor,
They airted by the line o light
Fu straught to Johnie Blunt's door.

5

They haurld auld Luckie out o her bed
And laid her on the floor,
But never a word auld Luckie wad say,
For barrin o the door.

6

‘Ye've eaten my bread, ye hae druken my ale,
And ye'll mak my auld wife a whore!’
‘A ha, Johnie Blunt! ye hae spoke the first word,
Get up and bar the door.’