> Peter Bellamy > Songs > The Blackberry Fold
The Blackberry Fold / Betsy the Milkmaid
[
Roud 559
; Laws O10
; Ballad Index LO10
; Bodleian
Roud 559
; trad.]
Norfolk singer Harry Cox sang Blackberry Fold at home in Catfield, Norfolk, in October 1953 in a recording made by Peter Kennedy. This was published in 1965 on his eponymous EFDSS LP Harry Cox and in 2000 on his Rounder anthology What Will Become of England?. A later recording by Mervyn Plunkett from September 1958 was included on Harry Cox's 2 CD Topic Records anthology, The Bonny Labouring Boy. Steve Roud commented in the liner notes:
Blackberry Fold, or Betsy the Milkmaid, was popular with singers, being noted a number of times by late 19th and 20th century collectors, particularly in southern England and East Anglia (George Spicer and Phoebe Smith both sang it), but only once or twice in North America. The earliest known collected version, however, is from Ayrshire in 1827 (published by Emily Lyle in Andrew Crawfurd's Collection Vol. 2 (1996)). This lone Scottish version includes numerous differences to the English texts, in particular the ending in which, instead of forgiveness and marriage, the squire dies and Bess's master and mistress throw his corpse “into yon river clear”. Various 19th century broadside printers issued the song, with the earliest known being John Pitts in London (c. 1810-1830) which is therefore roughly contemporary with the Ayrshire version. Apart from the latter, the text remained remarkably stable, and Harry's is very similar to the Pitt's sheet, although one striking difference is in the last two lines, where the broadside is more direct:
It's better to be honest if ever so poor
So he made her his lady instead of his whore
Sam Larner sang Betsy the Milkmaid in between 1958 and 1960 to Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger. This recording was included in 2014 on his Musical Traditions anthology Cruising Round Yarmouth.
Charlie Carver of Tostock sang Blackberry Fold to John Howson at Tostock Gardeners' Arms in 1960. This recording was included in 1993 on the Veteran cassette and in 2009 on the Veteran CD Many a Good Horseman. John Howson noted:
This ballad was particularly popular in the southern counties of England following widespread distribution by many 19th century broadside printers including: Such, Disley and Fortey (London), Williams (Portsea), Bloomer (Birmingham) and Swindells (Manchester) under it's usual published name, The Squire and the Milkmaid. With its tale of courtship, broken tokens, seduction and finally marriage it was also noted down in mid Suffolk by E.J.Moeran in 1921 from George Hill at Stonham. Other East Anglian recordings which are available are from Harry Cox and from Phoebe Smith under the title of The Sheepfold.
Phoebe Smith sang this song as Down By the Sheepfold in a recording made by Peter Kennedy at Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk, on 8 July 1956. This was included in 2012 on the Topic anthology of Southern English gypsy traditional singers, I'm a Romany Rai (The Voice of the People Volume 22). Another version of her singing The Sheepfold was recorded by Mike Yates in 1975-76 and published in 1977 on her family's Topic album The Travelling Songster, and in 2001 on her Veteran CD The Yellow Handkerchief.
Peter Bellamy learned The Blackberry Fold from the singing of Harry Cox and sang it in 1969 on his second LP, Fair England's Shore. He noted:
Well into the twentieth century this broadside song issued by Henry Such of Southwark was still being hawked in the countryside. Eva Ashton heard the song in Sussex and E.J. Moeran found it in Suffolk. Like these two sets, Harry Cox's version of the words follows the Such broadside closely, though the three tunes are different, reminding us that Cox, like many another folk singer before him, sometimes made up his own melody to fit a set of words that came before him without a tune.
Queen Caroline Hughes sang a fragment of Betsy the Milkmaid in 1963 or 1966 to Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger. This recording was included in 2014 on her Musical Traditions anthology Sheep-Crook and Black Dog. Rod Stradling noted in the album's booklet:
If this confused example can be considered to be a version of Blackberry Fold, then we can say that many folksongs deal with the relationship between a squire and a village maiden. In The Banks of Sweet Dundee—a a highly popular piece—the squire dies. Here, however, he survives and is united with pretty Betsy. Today the song is no longer widespread, and of the 95 versions which we know about, some from as far away as Illinois and Labrador, most seem to be based on the broadsides issued by John Pitts c.1825 and in the 1850s by Henry Parker Such. In England the area of popularity is entirely in the south; there is just one version from Scotland.
The above mentioned George Spicer sang Blackberry Fold as the title track of his 1974 Topic LP Blackberry Fold; it was also included in 2001 on the Musical Traditions anthology of songs and music from the Mike Yates Collection, Up in the North and Down in the South. Mike Yates commented in the former album's liner notes:
Many folksongs deal with the relationship between a squire and an amorous maiden. In the case of Blackberry Fold the squire's intentions towards Betsy, the milkmaid, are misinterpreted by the latter, with an almost fatal result. However, all is resolved and the couple are happily united in the end. Not an everyday occurrence, of course, though one which has pleased several generations of singers. Today the song is no longer widespread, and the handful of versions which have been collected, some from as far away as Illinois and Labrador, all seem to be based on the broadside issued in the mid-1850's by Henry Parker Such.
Danny Brazil sang Betsy the Milkmaid on 20 October 1977 at Staverton, Glos. to Gwilym Davies. This recording was included in 2007 on the Brazil Family's Musical Traditions anthology Down By the Old Riverside. The album's booklet notes are quite similar to the ones on Caroline Hughes' album.
Jo Freya sang Blackberry Fold in 2018 on Blowzabella's album Two Score. They noted:
Traditional, adapted and with extra lyrics by Jo Freya.
Jo found the song in the Kennedy Grant Library at Halsway Manor. There are numerous versions on this song most collected in the South West and East Anglia. The basic story is found in many traditional songs but Jo has added a middle section to explain how the romance developed from point blank refusal to marriage. The tune is quintessentially English and the origin of the word ‘fold’ is ancient—probably meaning an animal enclosure or field.
Lyrics
The Milk-Maid in Andrew Crawfurd's Collection Vol. 2 |
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In days o' yore donn in Ross shire Ae simmer morn this noble squire O want ye onie milk she said There's monie a fairer sweeter may O never mind my witching fair But as they gade towards the kirk An gin ye here deny my suit O Sir did na ye hecht to me Wi' wrestling an pouand much Wi frantic rage she grippit the glaive Upon my chaste body she said Up then raise her master bauld John Guthrie | |
Peter Bellamy sings The Blackberry Fold | Phoebe Smith sings The Sheepfold |
It is of a young squire near Bristol did dwell | |
Now the squire and his sisters they sat in the hall, |
As I were a singing a sweet pretty song |
“Do you want any milk, sir,” pretty Betsy did say. | |
“Oh no, sir,” cried Betsy, “How can you say so? |
“Now hold your tongue squire don't you madam me |
But a ring from off his finger he instantly drew |
The ring from his finger he quickly a drew |
As they were a-walking and a-talking the squire did say, |
“Oh now pretty Betsy let me have my wish |
“Oh no, sir,” cried Betsy, “Pray let me go free. |
With huggling and struggling Pretty Betsy got free |
Then out from her bosom this dagger she drew |
So to her father with a tear in her eye, |
So a carriage being sent for and the squire brought home. |
Now the carriage was sent for, the carriage it came |
So Betsy was sent for and a-shivering came on. | |
So a parson being sent for this couple to wed. | |
Charlie Carver sings Blackberry Fold | Sam Larner sings Betsy the Milkmaid |
The squire and his sister they were sit in the hall, |
The Squire and his sister, we sat in the hall |
“Do you want any milk sir?” pretty Betsy did say. |
“Do you want any milk, Squire?” pretty Betsy did say. |
“Oh hold your tongue squire, and let me go free, |
“Now hold your tongue, Squire, and let me go free; |
Then a ring from his finger, he instantly drew, | |
“Pretty Betsy, pretty Betsy I will now have my will.” |
Now with a long jingle, and that I’ve been told, |
With a wriggling and a squiggling pretty Betsy got free, |
“Now hold your tongue, Squire, and let me go free. |
Then home to her father with tears in her eye, |
Now with this long weapon she pierced him right through |
Oh the carriage it was sent for to fetch the squire home, |
Now the Squire was sent for and he was brought home, |
Pretty Betsy come trembling and trembling again, |
(Spoken:) I don’t know any more. It come in like this … It’s best to be honest if ever so poor |
Oh a parson was sent for and he came to the bed, |
(Spoken:) Now that’s a nice song. |
Danny Brazil sings Betsy the Milkmaid | Caroline Hughes sings Betsy the Milkmaid |
Pretty Betsy was a milkmaid and a milkmaid was she |
There was a young squire, through Bristol he dwelled |
“Step you in pretty milkmaid, set you down by me |
Well, she was young and foolish and she thought it no harm, |
Through fields and through meadows this young couple walked, |
Well he run behind her, both screaming she did |
With kicking and struggling pretty Betsy got free, |
Oh now uggling and struggling, sweet Betsy got free, |
Pretty Betsy went home with a tear in her eye. | |
The carriage was sent for to fetch him home, | |
Blue ribbons, blue ribbons, orange and green, |