Fair Margaret- Vergie Wallin (NC) 1979 DA REC
[From Digital Appalachia (recording); 1979.
Virgie Wallin sings a ballad in her Madison county home for a high school group from Paideia school in Atlanta. The group is led by John Sundale. Virgie's husband, Cas, is also present. Listen to Virgie talking before this song: ww08003.
The recording is difficult to understand. As an introduction Vergie says something like, "This is the old ballad that 'Little Margaret' came from." It was sung by her mother when she was young (over 43 years ago?). Listen: http://dla.acaweb.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/Warren/id/2051/rec/2.
She calls it "Fair Margaret" which is not a local title - supplied by collectors and books over the years.
R. Matteson 2014]
"Fair Margaret" sung by Virgie Wallin, Madison, NC ballad singer in 1979.
Sweet William arose one merry mornin',
[He] dressed hisself in blue,
"I've come to Tell you all about the love
Between Lady Margaret and you."[1]
I know nothing of Lady Margret's Love,
She know[s] nothing of me.
In the morning about half past eight,
Little Marget my bride shall be [see].[2]
[recording on-line stops here after two verses- apparently there's a complete ballad but the whole recording is not available.]
1. The third line switched to the first person (dialogue) which makes no sense here.
2. This is a common error by ballad singers-- "be" should be "see."