Kate and Her Horns (OT2003-3013-003)

Kate and Her Horns (OT2003-3013-003)

Song excerpted from audio recording OT2003-3013, part of VFC2003-0007 Margaret MacArthur Collection.

Margaret MacArthur Collection -- VFC2003-0007. Vermont Folklife Center Archive, Vermont Folklife Center, Middlebury, Vermont, United States of America.

1964-07-16

en

VFC2003-0007 OT2003-3013-003

Vermont Folklife Center

Kate and Her Horns

Kate and Her Horns

Folk Music Index (http://www.ibiblio.org/folkindex)

[Singing starts at 0:16]

You that in merriment delight
Pray listen until what I write
So shall your satisfaction find
It'll cure a melancholy mind

A damsel sweet in Cholchester
And there a clothier courted her
For three months space both night and day
[Atwood interjects, unintelligible] But yet this damsel still said "Nay"

She said "Were I to love inclined
Perhaps you soon would change your mind
And court some other damsel fair
For men are false I do declare"

[unintelligible] many protestations made
And like a royal lover said
"There's none but you shall be wife
The joy and comfort of my life"

At [Atwood clears throat] at length this maid gave her consent
To marry him and straight they went
Unto their parents then and who
Both gave their leave and liking too

But see the awful fruits of gold
He left his loyal love behind
With grief and love all compassed round
While he a greater fortune found

A lawyer's daughter faira nd bright
Her parent's joy and whole delight
He was resolved to make his spouse
Denying all his former vows

And when poor Kate she came to hear
That she must lose her only dear
And for the lawyer's daughter's sake
Some sport of him Kate thought she'd make

Kate knew when every night he came
From his new love Nancy by name
Sometimes at ten o'clock or more
Kate to a tanner went therefore

And borrowed there an old cowh ide
With crooked horns both large and wide
When she had wrapped herself therein
Her new intrigue she did begin

Kate to a lonesome field did stray
At length the clothier came that way
And he was surely scared at her
She looked so like Lucifer

A hairy hide horns on her head
Which near three feed asunder spread
With that he saw a long black tail
He strove to run but his feet did fail

Then with a grim but doleful note
She quickly seized him by the throat
And said "[Atwood stutters] You leave poor Kate I hear
And woo the lawyer's daughter dear"

Since you have been so false to her
You prejured knave of Colchester
You shall whether you will or no
Into my gloomy region go

This voice did sore affrighten him
And kneeling on his trembling limb
Cried "Master devil spare me now
And I'll perform my former vow"

"I'll make young Kate my lawful bride"
"See that you do" the devil cried
"If Kate against you doth complain,
Soon shall you hear from me again"

Then home he went though very late
He little thought that it was Kate
That set him in such a fright
Therefore next day by morning light

He went to Kate and married her
For fear of that old Lucifer
Kate's friends and parents thought it strange
That there was such a sudden change

Kate never let her parents know
Or any other friend or foe
Til they one year had married been
And told this to the neighbor then

It pleased the women to the heart
They said she fairly played her part
Her husband laughed as well as they
It was a merry joyful happy day

References:

• "Kate and Her Horns," typewritten lyrics owned by Margaret MacArthur, archived at the Vermont Folklife Center.

4:30