The Ballad of Mary Anne and Agnes 2 (Remastered)

Tudor bardcore, Elizabethan folk, female duet, two voices, uptempo, lute, hurdy-gurdy, frame drum, recorder, major key, bright and rollicking, darkly comic, tavern ballad, medieval folk, call and response

V5.5

[spoken]
"Hark ye! Draw near and attend the history of Mistress Mary Anne and the widow Agnes. A most merry and Just Account of Two Goodly Maids.

[Verse 1 - Two-part harmony]
Mary Anne and Agnes were the dearest of companions,
Since they were but maids at the knee.
Both daughters of the Harvest Guild and skilled in husbandry,
As comely as any might see.
Fair Mary sought her fortune 'neath the London city light,
While Agnes remained in the mire,
But Agnes cast her eyes about the shire
And found naught but James in sight

[Verse 2 - Call and Response]
[Agnes]: 'Twas scarce a fortnight past the bells of her wedding mass,
[Mary]: (That Agnes bore the mark of the blow!)
[Agnes]: She donned a heavy linen hood and sleeves of darkest wool,
[Mary]: (To hide what the village must know.)
[Agnes]: She knelt before the parish priest and begged for his relief,
[Mary]: (But the Father, he paid her no heed!)
[Agnes]: Quoth he: "A wife must bear her cross and keep her marriage vows,"
[Together]: And he sent her home to bleed.

[Bridge - Tempo increases, Hurdy-gurdy solo]
Forthwith did Mary Anne ride hard upon the midnight road,
With iron in her heart and hemlock in her load!
She took poor Agnes by the hand and whispered in her ear:
"The harvest moon is rising, and his judgment day is here."
[Together]: For James must needs be slain!

[Chorus - Uptempo and Rollicking]
(Fa-la-la-la-la-la) Farewell, James!
[Mary]: That pottage? (Fa-la-la-la-la-la)
[Agnes]: It pleased thy palate well, James!
[Mary]: Thou art grown weak? (Fa-la-la-la-la-la)
[Agnes]: Lay thee down and sleep, James!
[Together]: Is it not dark? (Fa-la-la-la-la-la)
Wrapped in that sack, James?

[Verse 3 - Slower, Mock-Sorrowful]
The Constable came knocking for to ask after the man,
And searched the cottage floor to the sill.
He doffed his cap and sighed, "God keep ye, gentle ladies —
Should he return, do send us word, upon the hill.”

The weeks did pass and spring gave way to summer
And summer into autumn's chill
And James became a man reported missing by the law,
[Together]: Whom no soul missed, nor ever will!

[Verse 4 - Triumphant, Tavern Style]
Now the maids have set up ale-stakes on the dusty village green,
And brew a most agreeable tun.
They pour with easy laughter and they sleep a heavy sleep,
Now that their holy work is done!

[Chorus - Full Volume]
(Fa-la-la-la-la-la) Farewell, James!
[Mary]: We seek repose— (Fa-la-la-la-la-la)
[Agnes]: Let us ride to the lake, James!
[Mary]: We'll pack our victuals (Fa-la-la-la-la-la)
[Agnes]: And bind thee to the millstone, James!
[Together]: Dost thou consent? (Fa-la-la-la-la-la)
[Mary]: Good! [Agnes]: Good!
[Together]: Let us ride, James!

[Outro - Fading out with recorder and drum]
Now hark ye well (Fa-la-la-la-la-la)
Hey nonny nonny (Fa-la-la-la-la-la)
The pond is deep! (Fa-la-la-la-la-la)
The secret's kept! (Fa-la-la-la-la-la)
Hey, down-a-down!

[Spoken Outro]
Here endeth the ballad.
May the wicked receive their just recompense, and may goodly women find peace within the Kingdom.
Huzzah!

3037/7500

[spoken] "Hark ye! Draw near and attend the history of Mistress Mary Anne and the widow Agnes. A most merry and Just Account of Two Goodly Maids. [Verse 1 - Two-part harmony] Mary Anne and Agnes were the dearest of companions, Since they were but maids at the knee. Both daughters of the Harvest Guild and skilled in husbandry, As comely as any might see. Fair Mary sought her fortune 'neath the London city light, While Agnes remained in the mire, But Agnes cast her eyes about the shire And found naught but James in sight [Verse 2 - Call and Response] [Agnes]: 'Twas scarce a fortnight past the bells of her wedding mass, [Mary]: (That Agnes bore the mark of the blow!) [Agnes]: She donned a heavy linen hood and sleeves of darkest wool, [Mary]: (To hide what the village must know.) [Agnes]: She knelt before the parish priest and begged for his relief, [Mary]: (But the Father, he paid her no heed!) [Agnes]: Quoth he: "A wife must bear her cross and keep her marriage vows," [Together]: And he sent her home to bleed. [Bridge - Tempo increases, Hurdy-gurdy solo] Forthwith did Mary Anne ride hard upon the midnight road, With iron in her heart and hemlock in her load! She took poor Agnes by the hand and whispered in her ear: "The harvest moon is rising, and his judgment day is here." [Together]: For James must needs be slain! [Chorus - Uptempo and Rollicking] (Fa-la-la-la-la-la) Farewell, James! [Mary]: That pottage? (Fa-la-la-la-la-la) [Agnes]: It pleased thy palate well, James! [Mary]: Thou art grown weak? (Fa-la-la-la-la-la) [Agnes]: Lay thee down and sleep, James! [Together]: Is it not dark? (Fa-la-la-la-la-la) Wrapped in that sack, James? [Verse 3 - Slower, Mock-Sorrowful] The Constable came knocking for to ask after the man, And searched the cottage floor to the sill. He doffed his cap and sighed, "God keep ye, gentle ladies — Should he return, do send us word, upon the hill.” The weeks did pass and spring gave way to summer And summer into autumn's chill And James became a man reported missing by the law, [Together]: Whom no soul missed, nor ever will! [Verse 4 - Triumphant, Tavern Style] Now the maids have set up ale-stakes on the dusty village green, And brew a most agreeable tun. They pour with easy laughter and they sleep a heavy sleep, Now that their holy work is done! [Chorus - Full Volume] (Fa-la-la-la-la-la) Farewell, James! [Mary]: We seek repose— (Fa-la-la-la-la-la) [Agnes]: Let us ride to the lake, James! [Mary]: We'll pack our victuals (Fa-la-la-la-la-la) [Agnes]: And bind thee to the millstone, James! [Together]: Dost thou consent? (Fa-la-la-la-la-la) [Mary]: Good! [Agnes]: Good! [Together]: Let us ride, James! [Outro - Fading out with recorder and drum] Now hark ye well (Fa-la-la-la-la-la) Hey nonny nonny (Fa-la-la-la-la-la) The pond is deep! (Fa-la-la-la-la-la) The secret's kept! (Fa-la-la-la-la-la) Hey, down-a-down! [Spoken Outro] Here endeth the ballad. May the wicked receive their just recompense, and may goodly women find peace within the Kingdom. Huzzah!

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