Brown Girl, Lyric Variant 05

This item is part of the I. G. Greer Folksong Collection which consists of more than 300 individual song titles and their variants as collected by Isaac Garfield Greer (1881-1967) from informants, primarily in Ashe, Wilkes and Watauga counties. The collection includes manuscripts, typescript transcriptions produced by Dr. Greer’s clerical staff, and handwritten musical notations. Songs range from traditional Child Ballads, traditional English and Scottish ballads as well as their American variants, to 19th century popular music to musical compositions of local origin.

Ballads, English

Courtship--Songs and music

Unrequited love--Songs and music

Death--Songs and music

The Rich Lady, Fair Sally, Pretty Sally

AC.113 Isaac Garfield (I.G.) Greer Papers and Recordings

W. L. Eury Appalachian Collection, Appalachian State University

Greer, I. G. (Isaac Garfield), 1881-1967

PDF

English

Text

Caldwell County (N.C.)

Fine Salley

There was a rich Irish Lady worth thousands of gold.
Fin salley fine Salley indeed was her name.
But her riches was more than the Queen did possess.

There was a rich Merchant worth thousands of gold.
He corded this damsel so neat and so fine.
But her riches was so lofty and her fashion so fine.
And on this young man she scarcely cast her eye.

O Salley O Salley O Salley said he.
Im sorry to think we canot agree.
But if all your hatred would turn to love.
My love and your love would prove true I am sure.

Yes I am scornful For I hate you.
To say that I love you is more than I can.
So you may retire in your discorse.
For I will never marry you unless I am forced.

O Salley O Salley O Salley said he.
Don't youn rember when you slighted me?
I came here to court you but you slighted me with scorn.
And now I reward you with things passed and gone.

Oft things passed and gone love forget and forgive.
And grant me a blessing I longer to live.
I never will salley during my life.
Ill dance on your grave when your laid in the earth.

Six weeks have come and six weeks have passed.
This damsel was taken down sick at the last.
All raped up in love and she knew not why.
She sent for this young man that she used to denie.

Im am the Docter you sent me here.
I am the young man that you love so dear.
Yes you are the young man that can kill me or cure.
Without your effections i am gone i am sure.

Fare well my dear parents and all my best friends.
Adue to my Swwetheart God make him a man.
Ill will freely frrgive him although he wont me.
Tenn thousand times ore thee I see.

She pulled off ehr god ring and diamonds to.
Says take them and wear them while dancing over me.
Your culler will fly and never be seen.
whille dancing over Salley over Salley the Queen.

Mrs Alice Cook.

Child, 295 Brown, Older Ballads - Mostly British - 90 Randolph, 40 Laws, P 9 Cox, 114 Sharp, 44

113_BrownGirl_Lyric_05_ocr