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Long Lankin

[Child 93; trad. arr.]

This Child ballad was sung unaccompanied by Martin Carthy on his 1968 album with Dave Swarbrick, But Two Came By. It was reissued on his compilation album Selections. Martin Carthy commented in the original album's sleeve notes:

Long Lankin was the subject of an extensive essay Anne Gilchrist in EFDSS Vol. 1 No. 1, where she noted how the song has developed in two distinct forms. The first which she titles Lamkin, the Wronged Mason, is the Scottish version and the second, found from Northumberland to the south coast of England, she called Longkin, the Border Ruffian, but, she says, the second might have arisen from the first when the verse was lost as the motives appear to be the same, ie. revenge.

The version here, from the second stream, is from the singing of Ben Butcher, with an expanded text which itself was largely from the singing of a nun, Sister Emma of Clewer, Bucks. It has been suggested that Lankin was indeed a leper seeking to cure himself by bathing in the blood of an innocent, which was often believed to be successful, but attractive (if that is the word) though his idea may seem, I myself incline to the view that it is a simple “bogey man” song, for, after all, if children have bogeymen, why not adults? They just call them by different names (nowadays, “neurotic fancies” et al). Indeed, according again to Anne Gilchrist, until a few years ago a mother near Whittle Dean, Northumberland, had but to go outside, shake a bunch of keys, and cry “There's Long Lankin!” to recall her straying children at nightfall.

Steeleye Span recorded this murderous ballad for their album Commoners Crown and a second time for the CD Present to accompany the December 2002 Steeleye Span reunion tour. A live version can be found on the DVD The 35th Anniversary World Tour.

Dave Tomlinson notes:

Long Lankin is a legend from Northumbrian in northern England. Lankin was either a stonemason or a famous robber and desperado and lived at Nafferton Castle (also known as Lonkins Hall). Lankin was involved in a dispute with Lord Wearie of nearby Welton Hall, this reached a bloody conclusion when Lankin, with the cooperation of Lord Wearies grandchilds nurse, entered Welton Hall and murdered the grandchild and Wearies daughter. Lankin and the nurse escaped but were tracked down. Rather than be captured, Lankin hanged himself from an oak tree near Whittle Dene near the present reservoirs under Harlow Hill. The nurse was burnt at the stake by Lord Wearies men.

The places can be found around the current A69 road between Newcastle and Hexham. Welton Hall has been converted in a farmhouse. The ladys ghost is said to walk Welton Hall. The oak tree is said to carry the outline of a hanged man.

See also Dave's Steeleye Span fanzine The Song and the Story.

Lyrics

Martin Carthy's version

Says mylord to mylady as he mounted his horse,
“Beware of Long Lankin that lives in the moss.”

Says mylord to mylady as he went on his way,
“Beware of Long Lankin that lives in the hay.”

“See the doors are all bolted, see the windows all pinned,
And leave not a crack for a mouse to creep in.”

Oh, the doors were all bolted, oh, the windows were pinned,
But at a small peep in the window Long Lankin crept in.

“Where's the lord of this household?” cries Long Lankin.
“He's away up to London,” says the false nurse to him.

“Where's the lady of the household?” cries Long Lankin.
“She's asleep in her chamber,” says the false nurse to him.

“Where's the heir of the household?” cries Long Lankin.
“He's asleep in his cradle,” says the false nurse to him.

“We'll pinch him and we'll prick him all over with a pin.
And that'll make mylady to come down to him.”

So they pinched him and they pricked him all over with a pin.
And the false nurse held the basin for the blood to drip in.

“Oh nurse how you slumber, oh nurse how you sleep,
You leave my little son to cry and to weep.”

“Oh nurse how you slumber, oh nurse how you snore,
You leave me little baby to cry and to roar.”

“Oh, I tried him with the milk and I've tried him with the pap.
Come down, my pretty lady, and rock him in your lap.”

“Oh, I've tried him with the rattle and I've tried him with the bell.
Come down, my pretty lady, and rock him yourself.”

“How dare I come down in the dead of the night
When there's no candles burning nor no fires alight?”

“You have three silver gowns all bright as the sun.
Come down, my pretty lady, all by the light of one.”

Oh, the lady came downstairs, she was thinking no harm.
Long Lankin he stood ready for to catch her in his arm.

There's blood in the kitchen, there's blood in the hall,
There's blood in the parlour where mylady did fall.

Her handmaid stood out at the window so high
And she saw her lord and master come a-riding close by.

“Oh master, oh master, don't lay no blame on me.
'Twas the false nurse and Lankin that killed your lady.”

“Oh master, oh master, don't lay no blame on me.
It was the false nurse and Lankin that killed your baby.”

Long Lankin shall be hanged on the gallows so high.
And the false nurse shall be burned in the fire close by.

Steeleye Span version

Said the lord unto his lady as he rode over the moss,
“Beware of Long Lankin that lives amongst the gorse.
Beware the moss, beware the moor, beware of Long Lankin.
Be sure the doors are bolted well lest Lankin should creep in.”

Said the lord unto his lady as he rode away,
“Beware of Long Lankin that lives amongst the hay.
Beware the moss, beware the moor, beware of Long Lankin.
Be sure the doors are bolted well lest Lankin should creep in.”

“Where's the master of the house?” says Long Lankin.
“He's away to London,” says the nurse to him.
“Where's the lady of the house?” says Long Lankin.
“She's up in her chamber,” says the nurse to him.
“Where's the baby of the house?” says Long Lankin.
“He's asleep in the cradle,” says the nurse to him.

“We will pinch him, we will prick him, we will stab him with a pin.
And the nurse shall hold the basin for the blood all to run in.”
So they pinched him, then they pricked him, then they stabbed him with a pin.
And the false nurse held the basin for the blood all to run in.

“Lady, come down the stairs,” says Long Lankin.
“How can I see in the dark?” she says unto him.
“You have silver mantles,” says Long Lankin,
“Lady, come down the stairs by the light of them.”
Down the stairs the lady came thinking no harm,
Lankin he stood ready to catch her in his arm.

There was blood all in the kitchen,
There was blood all in the hall.
There was blood all in the parlour
Where my lady she did fall.

Now Long Lankin shall be hanged
From the gallows oh so high.
And the false nurse shall be burned
In the fire close by.

(Repeat first verse)

Acknowledgements

Transcribed by Garry Gillard with corrections by Reinhard Zierke and Patrick Montague.