Reynardine

This is an enigmatic song which became popular in the British folksong revival of the 1960s and 1970s. It is thought that the revival versions of this ballad were not from the folk tradition, but come from text written or collated by A.L. Lloyd.

I learned this version from the singing of Antoinette McKenna.

It was heard by Washington Irving in Kentucky in around 1832, and also collected in Missouri , Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Vermont, Arkansas as well as in Canada. An American broadside (with the name "Ranordine") was printed in Boston around 1813.

In "Irish Country Songs" (1909) Hughes gives a variant, stating that "In the locality where I obtained this fragment, Reynardine is known as the name of a faery which changes into the shape of a fox". However the supernatural elements (suggesting perhaps a werewolf) seem to come from verses written by the Irish Poet Joseph Campbell in the early 1900s.

"Reynardine" has been collected only once in Britain from oral tradition - a fragment of just 2 verses - collected by W. Percy Merrick in 1889 in Sussex.

Some suggest that the story may be based on the life of Edmund Ryan, (known as "Ned of the Hill" or "Eamon o Chnoic"), who stayed as an outlaw in Ireland rather than join the 'Wild Geese' who fled to France after 1691.

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One evening as I rambled, two miles below Pomroy,
I spied a pretty fair maiden, all on the mountains high.
I said, "My pretty fair maiden, your beauty shines so clear,
And on this lonely mountain, I'm glad to see you here."

"I'm glad to see you here,
I'm glad to see you here.
It's on this lonely mountain,
I'm glad to see you here."

She said "Kind Sir, be civil and my company forsake,
For to my great opinion, I fear you are some rake,
And if my parents they should know my life they would destroy,
For the keeping of your company, all on the mountains high".

Well then this pretty fair maiden she fell into a daze
With eyes as bright as amber upon me she did gaze
Her rosy cheeks and her ruby lips they lost their former dye
Then she fell into my arms all on the mountain high

Well I had not kissed her once or twice, when she came to again,
Quite modestly she asked of me, "Kind, sir, tell me your name"
"If you go in yonder forest, the answer there you'll find.
For 'tis writ in ancient history, they call me Reynardine."

I said, "My pretty fair maiden, don't let your parents know,
For if you do it will prove my ruin and faith will overthrow.
And if you come in search of me, perhaps you'll not me find,
For I'll be in my castle - enquire for Reynardine".

So come all you pretty fair maidens and a warning take by me.
Beware of your common ways, and shun bad company,
For if you don't, you will surely rue until the day you die.
And beware of meeting Reynardine all on the mountains high.

Here is another version, entitled "Sly Bold Reynardine", which I learned from the singing of Melanie Beer:

One evening as I rambled among the leaves so green
I overheard a young woman conversing with Reynardine

Her hair was black, her eyes were blue, her lips as red as wine
And he smiled to gaze upon her did that sly bold Reynardine

If my parents they should know my life they would destroy
For the keeping of your company all on the mountains high

He had not kissed her once or twice when she came to again
quite modestly she asked him pray tell to me your name

If you come to yonder forest my castle there you'll find
For 'tis writ in ancient history, my name is Reynardine

And if when you should search for me perhaps you'll not me find
for I'll be in my castle, enquire for Reynardine

So all you pretty fair maids a warning take by me
And be sure to quit night-walking and shun bad company

For if you don't you will surely rue until the day you die
And beware of sly bold Reynardine all on the mountains high