BALLAD INDEX
Child 34
Roud 43
He leads her to the woods and she bewitches him to sleep (or drugs him depending on the version) and ultimately wins the bet.
There is usually a reference to him threatening her or saying he was planning to kill her but was thwarted by her magic.
About the Ballad:
Traditional English ballad also often called The Broomfield Hill, possibly as old as the 12th century!
This one is rather unique because the woman ultimately curses him and doesn’t get killed.
Aunt Peggy seems so happy singing this one! I’ve heard her talk about how much she doesn’t like all the songs where women get killed, and you can hear it in her performance of this ballad.
Absolitely classic Cordelia’s Dad, easy to listen to & fun. In this version there’s a verse where he says “if i were awake as i were asleep” he would have slept with her and then killed her, thus winning his original bet.