> Shirley Collins > Songs > Locks and Bolts
> Martin Carthy > Songs > Locks and Bolts

Locks and Bolts

[ Roud 406 ; Laws M13 ; Ballad Index LM13 ; trad.]

Shirley Collins sang Locks and Bolts in 1963 on her Topic EP Heroes in Love. Like all tracks of this EP, it was included in her compilation Fountain of Snow and on the CD reissue of The Sweet Primeroses. It was also included in Within Sound. The original records's sleeve notes comment:

This song is known in Britain, though it has not appeared in the published English collections. Our present version is from the Appalachian region - Shirley has collated two texts from C.J. Sharp's English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians. The interesting hexatonic tune is something of a mystery since Shirley has forgotten her source, and may have composed it herself.

Martin Carthy recorded this with some different verses for his 1976 album Crown of Horn; it was also on his Green Linnet compilation The Collection. He commented in the original record's sleeve notes:

Locks and Bolts comes from the repertoire of the woodcutter, hop-picker, poacher and marbles champion George Maynard. It was collected by Ken Stubbs and printed in the Journal of the English Folk Dance and Song Society (1963), whence I learnt it. At first glance it seems to be a Victorian song, but it is probably very much older, although not in this form.

Jackie Oates sang Locks and Bolts in 2009 on her CD Hyperboreans.

Lyrics

Shirley Collins sings Locks and Bolts

I dreamed last night of my true love,
All in my arms I held her;
But when I woke she was not there,
I was alone without her.

Her yellow hair, like locks of gold,
Come jingling down my pillow;
She is the one that I love best,
She's like the weeping willow.

You've caused your parents to bear me a grudge
And treat me most unkindly
Because you're of some high degree
And me so poor and needy.

I went up to her father's house
Enquiring for my darling.
Her father said, “She is not here;
I've none such in my keeping.”

But when she heard my lonely voice
She answered at the window,
“Oh lover, love, it's I'd be yours,
But locks and bolts do hinder.”

I stood a moment all amazed,
I viewed her long and tender;
My passion flew, my sword I drew,
I swore that house I'd enter.

The blood was shed from every side
Till I got her from among them;
And all young men with loves like mine
Should fight till you can win them.

Martin Carthy sings Locks and Bolts

Twas over the hills, it was over the hills,
Twas over the hills and the valleys,
Where my true love was kept from me
Quite out of spite and malice.

I went down to her father's house
Enquiring for my jewel.
They answered me, “She is not at home,
She is at her uncle's housekeeping.”

So I went down to her uncle's house
Enquiring for my jewel.
They answered me, “She is not here,”
Which proved to my heart so cruel.

This fair maid hearing of his voice
Put her head out of the window,
She says, “My dear, you're welcome here
But locks and bolts do hinder.”

He stood a moment all in amaze,
All in amaze and wonder,
Till straight he drew in a passion flew,
And the door he broke asunder.

Her uncle's servant, he being at home,
Soon after him did follow.
He said, “Young man, you must quit this room
Or in your own blood wallow.”

He took his true love all by her hand
And his sword all in the other,
He said, “If you have more right than I,
Take one and fight the other.”

So now this couple are in wedlock joined,
They do adore each other.
They oft time think all of that day
When the door he broke asunder.

Acknowledgements

Transcribed by Garry Gillard.