A Silvery Cup- Frank Proffitt (NC) 1939 Brown P
[My title. From: Brown Collection of NC Folklore, Volume 4, music. Recorded at Pick Britches, Sugar Grove, Watauga county, July 24, 1939. Cf. Steve Church; Sharp I. Also in Warner; Traditional American Folk Songs titled 'Hang Man" (missing the third verse). A cover of this version with slightly different lyrics has been done by Debra Cowan.
R. Matteson 2015]
P. [A Silvery Cup] 'Maid Freed from the Gallows.' Sung by Frank Proffitt, with guitar. Recorded at Pick Britches, Sugar Grove, Watauga county, July 24, 1939. Another title given is 'Hangman, Hangman.' The melodic material of measures 2, 5, and 6 of this version is the same as that of 30A, but what a difference in the use made of it! The harmony inflicted upon this melody by the guitar player is a fine example of experimentation with a totally unknown quantity!
For melodic relationship cf. *SharpK i 208, No. 28A, only the main points of the melody. Scale: Heptachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: abc (2,2,4)
P. "A Silvery Cup"- Sung by Frank Proffitt w/guitar, 1939 Beech Mountain, NC. Learned from his (great) aunt Nancy Prather.
Listen: http://omeka.library.appstate.edu/files/original/9364d1f3d3937aeb9d950aca0f14574e.mp3
Hold up your hand Old Joshuay[1] she said,
Wait a while and see,
I thought I seen my (own) father dear
Come crossing over the sea.
Have you got any money for me
Or gold for to pay my fee?
For I have stole a silvery cup,
And hang-eth I must be.
I don't have no money for you,
Gold to pay your fee,
I've just come to see you hang,
On yonders gallows tree.
[Same for: "own dear mother," "my own fair lover," last time "true love":]
Hold up your hand Old Joshuay she said,
Wait a while and see,
I thought I seen my true love
Crossing over the sea.
Have you got any money for me
And gold to pay my fee?
For I have stole a silvery cup,
And hang-eth I must be.
Yes I have the money for thee,
Gold to pay your fee
I have come to save your neck
From yonders gallow tree.
1. Lord Joshuay for "Lord Judge"