10. The Dying Ranger- Hamrick (WV) 1927
10 - THE DYING RANGER*
Communicated by Mr. Morgan Tamblyn Hamrick, East Bank, Kanawha County, June, 1927. Music noted by Miss Lydia I. Hinkel.
[music]
Hexatonic, M/O, raised fourth occasionally.
1 The sun was slowly sinking, and filled with brightest ray,
In the branches of a forest, a dying ranger lay;
Down by the old plantation, and beneath the southern sky,
Far away in old Texas, this wee lad lay down to die.
Laws A14.
For an excellent text of this song, see Lomax, Cowboy Songs, p. 214; also Cox, p. 263, Finger, p. 170. It appears to be an imitation of 'Bingen on the Rhone,' ( Cox). Add: Journal XLVI, 27; Lomax, rev. ed., p. 366 (text and tune)
(Halpert)
* text fragmentary