84. Locks and Bolts


84
Locks and Bolts

For reports of this ballad in Britain and America, and for its
possible relation to the Pepys broadside of 'A Constant Wife,' see
* Other texts have "gallows tree," which has more point.

 

OLDER BALLADS MOSTLY BRITISH 285

BSM 168 and OFS i 413-14. Martin Parker, professional ballad-
maker of the seventeenth century, has a song, 'The Lover's Joy
and Griefe' {Roxburghc Ballads i 599-603), with the refrain 'but
locks and bolts do hinder,' which may have some connection with
this ballad. To the references given in BSM and OFS should be
added Virginia (FSV 91), North Carolina (FSRA 132, and prob-
ably also 130). Mrs. Steely has found it in the Ebenezer com-
munity in Wake county.

'I Dreamed Last Night of My True Love.' Obtained in the summer of
1945 by Professors W. Amos Abrams and Gratis D. Williams from
Pat Frye of East Bend, Yadkin county, concerning whom see the head-
note to 'Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight' G.

1 I dreamed last night of my true love,
My arms lay came' around her ;

But when I waked 'twas nothing so
And I was forced to lay there 'thout her.

2 Her yeller hair like strands of gold
Was hanging over the piller.

I swore I neither would eat nor drink
Nor sleep while I was without her.

3 I went down to her uncle's house
A-hoping there I would gain her.

Her uncle answered me, 'There's no such here,'
And it put my heart all on fire.

4 I stood a while all in a maze,
A-thinking how I could gain her.
A patiently a sword I drew
And likewise did I gain her.

5 I took my love by her right hand,
A sword I drew in the other :

'If there's anyone here loves dearer than I
So let them foller on after.'

6 Her uncle and her aunt and some other man
So straightly followed on after,

Saying, 'If his ways you don't forsake

In your own heart's blood you shall waller.'

7 'I never married her for her gold or silver
Nor none of her father's treasure.'

^ So the manuscript. Just possibly "came" is for "calm" and "a
patiently" (stanza 4) for "impatiently," though neither is a happy
emendation.

--------
 

 

Locks and Bolts

'I Dreamed Last Night of My True Love.' Sung by Pat Frye. From previous
recording of Dr. W. A. Abrams, probably in the summer of I94S- For a simi-
lar idea from the time of Edward VI and printed in 'Lusty Juventus,' cf. ASB
Lxxx. Similar text to ours in SharpK 11 18, No. 80B.

For melodic relationship cf. **SharpK ii No. 8oB, measures 5-8.

Scale: Hexatonic (4). Tonal Center: c. Structure: abcc^ (2,2,2,2) = ab
(4.4).