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Master Kilby

[ Roud 1434 ; Ballad Index KaCr060 ; VWML CJS2/9/1913 , CJS2/10/2042 ; Mudcat 58570 ; trad.]

Maud Karpeles: Cecil Sharp’s Collection of English Folk Songs The Crystal Spring

Cecil Sharp collected the love song Master Kilby from Harry Richards of Curry Rivel in Somerset both on 29 July 1904 and on 6 January 1909 [VWML CJS2/9/1913, CJS2/10/2042] .

Nic Jones found Master Kilby in the Journals of the English Folk Song Society and recorded it for his 1978 Transatlantic / The Leader Tradition album From the Devil to a Stranger. Two live performances from before 1982 were released on his CDs Unearthed (2001) and Game Set Match (2006). The Nic Jones Trio (Nic with his son Joseph on guitar and Belinda O’Hooley on piano) sang Master Kilby in 2014 on the Topic DVD The Enigma of Nic Jones.

John Wesley Harding sang Master Kilby in 1999 on his Nic Jones tribute album, Trad Arr Jones.

Alasdair Roberts sang Master Kilby in 2001 on his CD The Crook of My Arm.

Pete Flood played Master Kilby on the 2009 Bellowhead band members’ anthology Umbrellowhead.

Andy Turner sang Master Kilby, from the tune and words collected from Harry Richards, as the 13 July 2013 entry of his project A Folk Song a Week.

Rob Harbron sang Master Kilby in 2015 on his and Emma Reid’s CD Flock & Fly.

This video shows Jon Loomes singing Master Kilby in January 2015:

John Smith sang Master Kilby on his 2018 CD Hummingbird.

Kate Rusby sang Master Kilby on her 2025 album When They All Looked Up. She noted:

I have loved this song ever since I heard it sung by my all-time musical hero, Nic Jones. I learned to use my folks’ record player just so I could listen to Nic’s albums. Now I’m getting older I thought it’s time to record sole favourites.

Ben Filmer-Sankey sang Master Kilby in 2026 on Owen Spafford, Will Allen and his album Sun in the Sands, followed by them playing Will Allen’s tune Roy’s Dream.

Lyrics

Harry Richards sings Master Kilby [VWML CJS2/9/1913]

In the heat of the day
When the sun shines so freely
There I met Master Kilby
So fine and so gay

Then I pulled off my hat
And I bowed to the ground
And I said Master Kilby
Pray where are you bound?

I am bound for the west
When in hopes to find rest
And in Nancy’s soft bosom
I will build a new nest

I would part with it all
With my own heart so freely
And it’s all for the sake
Of my charming Nancy.

She’s the fairest of girls
She’s the choice of my own heart
She’s painted like waxwork
In every part

And if I was the master
Of ten thousand pounds
Or in gay gold and silver
Or in King William’s crown

I would part with it all
With my own heart so freely
But it’s all for the sake
Of my charming Nancy

Then I gave her more kisses
It was on the seashore
But still she lay asking
Lay asking for more

Nic Jones sings Master Kilby

In the heat of the day when the sun shines so freely
I met Master Kilby so fine and so gay.

Well, I pulled off my hat and I bowed to the ground,
And I said, “Master Kilby, O where are you bound?”

“I’m bound for the west in hopes to find rest;
And in the arms of my dear Nancy I’ll build a new nest.

“And if I was the master of ten thousand pounds
In bright gold and silver or in King William’s crowns,

“I would part with it all with my own heart so freely:
It’s all for the sake of my charming Nancy.

“She’s the fairest of girls, she’s the choice of my heart;
And her skin shines like silver in every part.

“O I gave her some kisses, it was down by the sea shore;
But still she lay asking, lay asking for more.”