In 1966 the pair teamed up and began a significant influence on the folk music scene of the time. For contractual reasons, Swarbrick was given second billing on Carthy’s first three albums, but they shared the credits on the next album, But Two Came By (1968).
For many critics, Prince Heathen from 1969 was their finest recording together.
In 2006, the duo released "Straws in the Wind". In 2007, they won the 'Best Duo' Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
Long Lankin
Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"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.
The lyrics to Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick's song "Long Lankin" tell the story of a lord and lady who are warned about the danger of Long Lankin, a notorious figure who lives in the moss and hay. Despite taking precautions to secure their home, Long Lankin manages to sneak in through a small opening in the window, aided by a false nurse who provides him with information about the whereabouts of the lord, lady, and heir to the household. Long Lankin and the false nurse then proceed to torture and kill the baby in his cradle, and the lady when she comes downstairs to investigate. The ending of the song sees Long Lankin executed and the false nurse burned in punishment for their crimes.
The lyrics of this song are based on a traditional English ballad that has been passed down through oral tradition for centuries. The origins of the ballad are unclear, but it likely dates back to medieval times. According to some sources, the ballad may have been inspired by a real-life incident that occurred in the 14th century, when a group of criminals known as the Catterall gang murdered a family in Lancashire.
Line by Line Meaning
Says mylord to mylady as he mounted his horse, "Beware of Long Lankin that lives in the moss."
Before leaving on his horse, the lord warns the lady of the house to beware of Long Lankin who lives in the moss.
Says mylord to mylady as he went on his way, "Beware of Long Lankin that lives in the hay."
As the lord continues on his journey, he again reminds the lady to be cautious of Long Lankin who 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."
Instructions are given to make sure all the doors and windows are securely locked with no possible entry for anyone, not even for a mouse.
Oh, the doors were all bolted, oh, the windows were pinned, But at a small peep in the window Long Lankin crept in.
Despite the precautions, Long Lankin manages to sneak in through a small opening in the window.
"Where's the lord of this household?" cries Long Lankin. "He's away up to London," says the false nurse to him.
Long Lankin inquires about the lord of the house, but the false nurse deceitfully claims he is away in London.
"Where's the lady of the household?" cries Long Lankin. "She's asleep in her chamber," says the false nurse to him.
Long Lankin also questions the whereabouts of the lady of the house and the false nurse lies again, stating she's asleep in her room.
"Where's the heir of the household?" cries Long Lankin. "He's asleep in his cradle," says the false nurse to him.
Long Lankin asks for the location of the heir, and the false nurse falsely claims he is sleeping in his crib.
"We'll pinch him and we'll prick him all over with a pin. And that'll make mylady to come down to him."
Long Lankin and the false nurse plan to harm the baby to lure the lady of the house to come see what's wrong.
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.
They carry out their plan and hurt the baby, while the false nurse collects the blood in a basin.
"Oh nurse how you slumber, oh nurse how you sleep, You leave my little son to cry and to weep."
The lady of the house calls out to the nurse for not attending to the crying baby.
"Oh nurse how you slumber, oh nurse how you snore, You leave me little baby to cry and to roar."
The lady admonishes the nurse for sleeping and leaving the baby alone and crying.
"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."
The false nurse tries to entice the lady to come to the nursery, claiming she has tried feeding the baby and now he needs to be rocked.
"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."
The false nurse tries another trick to lure the lady by saying that the baby is not responding to any toys and that she should come and rock him herself.
"How dare I come down in the dead of the night When there's no candles burning nor no fires alight?"
The lady hesitates to come down as there are no lights on in the house in the middle of the night.
"You have three silver gowns all bright as the sun. Come down, my pretty lady, all by the light of one."
The false nurse entices the lady by telling her she has three bright silver gowns, and that she should come down with one and use it as a light source.
Oh, the lady came downstairs, she was thinking no harm. Long Lankin he stood ready for to catch her in his arm.
The lady falls into the trap and comes down, not realizing the danger that awaits her as Long Lankin waits to grab her.
There's blood in the kitchen, there's blood in the hall, There's blood in the parlour where mylady did fall.
The aftermath of the horror is described with blood being seen in various parts of the house where the lady fell.
Her handmaid stood out at the window so high And she saw her lord and master come a-riding close by.
The handmaid who was up high at the window saw the lord coming back home.
"Oh master, oh master, don't lay no blame on me. 'Twas the false nurse and Lankin that killed your lady."
The handmaid tries to wash her hands off the blame and tells the lord that the false nurse and Long Lankin are responsible for killing the lady.
"Oh master, oh master, don't lay no blame on me. It was the false nurse and Lankin that killed your baby."
The handmaid again tries to deflect any responsibility and tells the lord that the false nurse and Long Lankin killed the baby too.
Long Lankin shall be hanged on the gallows so high. And the false nurse shall be burned in the fire close by.
The punishment for their heinous crime is decided with Long Lankin to be hanged on the gallows and the false nurse to be burned in a nearby fire.
Contributed by Muhammad S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.