Play recording: Bold Babylon
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- Teideal (Title): Bold Babylon.
- Uimhir Chatalóige Ollscoil Washington (University of Washington Catalogue Number): 853906.
- Uimhir Chnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann (National Folklore of Ireland Number): none.
- Uimhir Roud (Roud Number): 27.
- Uimhir Laws (Laws Number): none.
- Uimhir Child (Child Number): 14.
- Cnuasach (Collection): Joe Heaney Collection, University of Washington, Seattle.
- Teanga na Croímhíre (Core-Item Language): English.
- Catagóir (Category): song.
- Ainm an té a thug (Name of Informant): Joe Heaney.
- Ainm an té a thóg (Name of Collector): Lucy Simpson.
- Dáta an taifeadta (Recording Date): 06/11/1979.
- Suíomh an taifeadta (Recording Location): Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America.
- Ocáid an taifeadta (Recording Occasion): private.
- Daoine eile a bhí i láthair (Others present): unavailable.
- Stádas chóipcheart an taifeadta (Recording copyright status): unavailable.
There were three sisters lived in a bower
Fall-i-lee and a lonie-oh
And they walked out to pick some flowers
On the bonny bonny banks of the Vergie-oh
They had not picked but barely one
When up then jumped a banished man
He took the first girl by the hand
He pulled her round and made her stand
‘Will you be a robber’s wife?
Or will you die by my pen-knife?’
‘No, I’ll never be a robber’s wife.
So I must die by your pen-knife.’
So he’s taken out his long pen-knife
And there he’s taken that young girl’s life.
He took the second girl by the hand
He pulled her round and made her stand
‘Will you be a robber’s wife?
Or will you die by my pen-knife?’
‘Oh, I’ll be no robber’s wife,
Nor I will die by your pen-knife.’
He’s taken out his long pen-knife,
There he’s taken that young girl’s life.
He took the third girl by the hand,
He pulled her around and made her stand
‘Will you be a robber’s wife?
Or will you die by my pen-knife?’
‘No, I’ll not be a robber’s wife?
Nor I’ll not die by your pen-knife!’
‘I have a brother brave and free.
If you kill me, then he’ll kill thee!’
‘Oh tell me what’s your brother’s name,
And tell me how he makes his game.’
‘My brother’s name is Bold Babylon,
And robbing travellers he thrives upon.’
‘Sister, sister, what have I done?
I’ve killed my sisters, all but one!’
So he’s taken out his long pen-knife
And there he took his own dear life.
Notes
Joe said he learned this song from Ellen Gibbs (or Gibb), who taught folklore (or folk music) at Columbus University in Columbus, Ohio (presumably he meant Ohio State University). She told Joe she had learned it in Kentucky.