This is aboot a wee laddie fa's stoppit on ees wye tae skweel by an affa weel drest mannie - like a laird or a knicht, but he's really a divil, or some ither ill trickit cratur fae the undirwirld. The only chunce the loon his tae get awa, is tae oot-wit him wi a cliver ansur.
Note
The only source for this sang wis “Motherwells Minstrelsey” published in 1827.
Surprisinly, there's nae record o't in the Greig-Duncan Collection, even tho it's commonly sung in NE Scotland richt thro tae the present day.
Versions o the story are kint in Scandinavia and Shetland.
Ballad: The Fause Knicht Upon the Road (Child 3) Singer: Ellie Beaton
O far are ye gan, quo the fause knicht upon the road I’m gan tae my schule, quo the wee boy and still he stood Fit’s that ye’ve on yer back, quo the fause knicht upon the road It’s only my schule pack, quo the wee boy and still he stood
Fa ain aa these sheep, quo the fause knicht upon the road They’re my mither’s and my ain, quo the wee boy and still he stood Foo munny o them are mine, quo the fause knicht upon the road Aa them fa hae blue tails, quo the wee boy and still he stood
I wish ye wis on yon tree, quo the fause knicht upon the road Wi a branchie under me, quo the wee boy and still he stood The branchie for tae brak, quo the fause knicht upon the road Aye and ye for tae fa doon, quo the wee boy and still he stood
I wish ye wis on yon sea, quo the fause knicht upon the road Wi a boatie under me, quo the wee boy and still he stood The boatie for tae sink, quo the fause knicht upon the road Aye and ye for tae be droont, quo the wee boy and still he stood
