[What is This the Blood Of?] Edward- Cannady (Virginia) 1918 Sharp H
[My title. From English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians by Sharp/Karpeles I, 1932, with music. A ninth verse is given from Sharp's MS 4502/3165.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
[What Is This The Blood Of?]- Sung by Mrs. S. V. Cannady at Endicott, Va., August 23, 1918
1 O what is this the blood of?
Son, pray tell it to me.
It is the blood of my good old horse
That ploughed the fields for me
2 It is too red for your good old horse.
Son, pray tell it to me.
It is the blood of my good old cow
That gave the milk for me.
3 It is too red for your good old cow.
Son, pray tell it to me.
It is the blood of my good old dog
That ran the deer for me.
4 It is too red for your good old dog.
Son, pray tell it to me.
It is the blood of my good old brother
That walked the road with me.
5 O what did you and your brother fall out about?
Son, pray tell it to me.
We fell out about a hazel-nut bush
Which might have made a hazel-nut tree.
6 O what are you going to do?
Son, pray tell it to me.
I'll set my foot on yonders shore,
And I'll sail across the sea.
7 What are you going to do with your pretty little wife?
Son, pray tell to me.
I'll set her foot on yonders shore,
And she'll sail by the side of me.
8 What are you going to do with your sweet little babe?
Son, pray tell to me.
I'll leave it here with my papa
Till I come home again.
9. O when will that be?
Son, pray tell to me.
When the sun rises in the West and sets in the East,
And that can never be.