Drowsy Sleeper- Oleavia Houser (AR) 1958 Parler B
[Informants name spelled differently. From Ozark Folksong Collection; Reel 278 Item 3. Collected by Merlyn B. Page and James R. Hayes. Also Wake Up, Wake Up, You Drowsy Sleeper from Max Hunter Collection: Cat. #0528 (MFH #128) - As sung by Olivia Hauser, Fayetteville, Arkansas on in 1958 and on July 5, 1960. Listen: http://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?id=130
As I remember Houser was related to the Davis singers; mother, two sisters, who also have versions (one of sisters?).
R. Matteson 2016]
THE DROWSY SLEEPER - Sung by Oleavia Houser [Olivia Hauser] of Fayetteville, Arkansas on October 26, 1958
Wake up, wake up you drowsy sleeper,
Wake up, wake up for its almost day,
How can you stand to sleep and slumber,
When your own true lover’s goin' away?
Whose this at my bedroom window,
That sings and sighs so mournfully?
Tis I, Tis I your own dear Edward,
Coming once more for to trouble thee,
Oh,Mary dear, go ask your mother,
If you my bride can ever be,
If she says no come back and tell me,
And I no more shall trouble thee.
Oh no, I’ll not go ask my mother,
For she lies on her bed at rest,
And in her hand she holds a letter,
That tells you of your own disgrace.
Oh, Mary dear, go ask your father,
If you my bride can ever be,
If he says no come back and tell me
And I no more shall trouble thee.
Oh, no, I'll not go ask my father,
For he lies on his bed at rest,
And in his hand he holds a dagger,
To pierce the one that I love best.
Oh Edward, dear, go and court some other,
And whisper sweet things in her ear,
Oh, no, I’ll not go court some other,
For you’re the one that I hold dear.
'Tis I can climb the highest tree top,
'Tis I could rob the rich’s nest,
'Tis I could wed the fairest lady,
But not the one that I love best.