Bailey Daughter- Long (WV) 1950 Gainer
[Gainer, Folk Songs from the West Virginia Hills, pp. 66-67. His notes follow. Gainer is not a reliable source and the fact that he had this rare ballad that "had never been found in the traditions of West Virginia," is suspicious. He had opportunities (Singa Hipsy Doodle) to publish this ballad since 1950 but didn't do so.
Stanzas 7 and 8 make it clear: this is not from tradition.
R. Matteson 2015]
THE BAILEY DAUGHTER OF HAZELENTOWN
(CHILD 105, "THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER OF ISLINGTON")
This ballad had never been found in the traditions of West Virginia until "Aunt" Mattie Long, of Gassaway, sang it to me in the summer of 1950. She was eighty-two years old at the time. She said she learned the song when she was a girl.
1. There was a young man lived in Hazelentown,
And he was a squire's son.
He fell in love with the Bailey daughter dear
Oh, the Bailey of Hazelentown, town,
Oh, the Bailey of Hazelentown.
2. They sent him away to some foreign country
For to study and improve his mind;
They sent him away to some foreign country,
And to leave his for-true-love behind, -hind,
And to leave his for-true-love behind.
3. It was all on one fine holiday
When the maids all went out for to play;
They all went out but the Bailey daughter dear,
And so cunningly she stole away, -way,
And so cunningly she stole away.
4 She traveled on twelve months and one day,
When a-riding along the highway,
Oh, who should she meet but her own true-love,
Came a-riding along the highway, -way,
Came a-riding along the highway.
5 She stepped right up to this young man,
Caught his horse by the bridle rein,
"One penny, one penny, kind sir," said. she,
"For to ease a poor troubled mind, mind,
For to ease a poor troubled mind."
6 "O where were you bred, my pretty little maid?
O where were you bred and born?"
"In Hazelentown, kind sir," said she,
"Where I've borne a many a scorn, scorn,
Where I've borne a many a scorn."
7 "Do you know anything of the Bailey daughter dear,
Whether she be dead or alive?"
"Oh, she is dead, for she is not alive,
And was buried twelve months ago, -go,
And was buried twelve months ago."
8 "O take away my milk-white steed,
My saddle, whip, and bow;
And I will away to some foreign country
Where no one else be known, known,
Where no one else be known."
9 "O she is not dead, for she is yet alive,
And standing by your side,
O she is not dead, for she is yet alive,
Just ready for to be your bride, bride,
Just ready for to be your bride."