Monday, March 4, 2024

Original Song: Robin and the Lady May

 For the Bardic War Online, we were tasked with various challenges, and one of mine was Original Song In a Period Style (or on period topic) and I chose the immortal Robin Hood. There is no tale of Robin and getting outsmarted by a lady in the wood that I'm aware of... but this sounds like something that could (should?) have happened.


Robin and the Lady May

Gavin Kent aka Greg Tremblay AS LV 2021


Twas morning in the greedwoode fair

And to the hunt did Robin go

The breeze of May was in his hair

Beneath his breath he sang-oh

Fa-lal-diddle-al-day-O

All on the first of May


The high road wound from east to west

And travelers knew that Robin’s band

Did haunt the forest they knew best

With blade and bow to hand-O

Fa-lal-diddle-al-day-O

All on the first of May


But on this May-Day Robin Spied

Atop a fine and dappled grey

A lady, brown haired and green eyed

Who chanced to pass his way-O

Fa-lal-diddle-al-day-O

All on the first of May


So Robin stopped her in her place

His grin a wide and boyish thing

She looked her on the outlaw’s face

And so began to sing-O

Fa-lal-diddle-al-day-O

All on the first of May


Oh Outlaw bold your mercy lend

On this fine day do not beset

A maid whose birthday is at hand

Leave me my riches yet-O

Fa-lal-diddle-al-day-O

All on the first of May


Robin laughed til the greenwood rang

And caught her bridle in his hand

You know well tolls are due my band

All for to cross this land-O

Fa-lal-diddle-al-day-O

All on the first of May


A kiss I’d have from you this day

To celebrate that ye were born

And then your toll you will have paid

And ride you on this morn-O

Fa-lal-diddle-al-day-O

All on the first of May


“But Robin” said the maiden then

“What gift shall you bestow on me?

A time with you I would me spend

My gift beneath yon tree-O”

Fa-lal-diddle-al-day-O

All on the first of May


They did away into the glade

The mayflowers nodding thin and gay

An of delight the day was made

Until the pair did say-O

Fa-lal-diddle-al-day-O

All on the first of May


Robin dozed in the springtime sun

The lark and sparrow did him spy

And when he roused him, resting done

What sight did meet his eye-O

Fa-lal-diddle-al-day-O

All on the first of May


The maiden was nowhere around

No trace seen of where she’d gone

And in her wake not to be found

His bow and sword and coin-O

Fa-lal-diddle-al-day-O

All on the first of May


They say the maiden is renown

By those who meet her ere the morn

From wood to field and road to town

The finest robber ever born-O

Fa-lal-diddle-al-day-O

All on the first of May


Now each year when the mayflower’s born

Robin and the maid do meet

For to contest in wit and form

And to desport so sweet-O

Fa-lal-diddle-al-day-O

All on the first of May-O


Fa-lal-diddle-al-day-O

All on the first of May-O


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Original Song: Robin and the Lady May

 For the Bardic War Online, we were tasked with various challenges, and one of mine was Original Song In a Period Style (or on period topic)...