Fair Sally- Carr (ME) pre1869 Barry B
[From British Ballads from Maine by Barry, Eckstrom and Smyth; 1929. Phillips Barry places the five versions under "Secondary Ballads" and makes no comment about Child's two ballads other than cf. Child 295. Two of Barry's versions are broadsides and since the Boston broadside was not cataloged by Ford it is probably c. 1840s. In this version Barry comments "Mrs. Young says she learned the song of her Grandmother Carr, who died in 1869, so that it is one of the earliest she knew. The air, however, she probably derived from her mother's singing." Later (Version D) they give the air her grandmother sang.
This ballad is not to be confused with the popular ballad, Child No. 73 Lord Thomas and Fair Annet, which is commonly known in the US, and Canada as "The Brown Girl."
US and Canada versions are based on the hundreds of late 18th century English broadsides sometimes titled "The Sailor from Dover" or "Sally and her Truelove Billy."
Child's B version of 295, "The Brown, Brown Girl" collected by Rev. S. Baring-Gould, introduced stanzas from the "Sally and her Truelove Billy" songs. In his article "Folk Song Tradition, Revival and Re-Creation" Steve Gardham has shown that Baring-Gould's ballad is a re-creation of two ballads and not traditional.
To put it simply, the versions are not closely related to "The Brown Girl" but are part of the "The Sailor from Dover" and "Sally and her Truelove Billy" song group. In the US and Canada some common titles are "Pretty Sally," "Sally," and "A Rich Irish Lady." They have been put here following Bronson and others who have attached them to Child 295, not because they belong here.
R. Matteson 2014]
B. "Fair Sally." From the manuscript book of Mrs. Susie Carr Young, one of her Grandmother Carr's songs.
1 There was a rich lady, from England she came,
Fair Sally she was called and Fair Sally was her name;
Her riches were more than the world e'er possessed,
And her wit and her beauty were more than the rest.
2 There was a rich squire worth ten thousand pounds a year,
And for to court this lady away he did steer,
She being a lady so lofty and so high
That upon this young gentleman she scarce cast her eye.
3 "O Sally, Fair Sally, O, Sally," says he,
"Isn't it a pity you and I can't agree?
For though I do love you, I know you don't me,
Ten thousand times ten thousand my follies I see."
4 When six weeks were over, all over, gone and past,
At length this fair damsel grew lovesick at last;
She being sick and was like for to die,
She sent for this young gentleman whom she did deny.
5 "O Sally, Fair Sally, O Sally," says he,
"O am I a doctor that you sent for me?"
"Yes, you are the one that can kill or can cure,
And without your assistance f am ruined evermore."
6 "O Sally, Fair Sally, O Sally," said he,
"Don't you remember when you slighted me?
'Twas when I did ask you, you answered me with scorn,
And now I'll reward you for what's past and gone."
7 "For what's past and gone, love, forget and forgive,
And grant me a little longer that in this world I may live."
"No, I never will forgive you while during of my breath,
But I'll dance over your grave when you're co]d in the earth."
8 Then off from her finger [she] pulled diamond rings three,
Saying: "Keep these in remembrance while dancing o'er me,
For I can forgive you, although you won't me,
Ten thousand times ten thousand my follies I see."
9. And now she is dead, as we do suppose,
And left some other lady dressed in her fine clothes.
Come all you pretty fair maids, your sweetheart, don't slight,
But be always condescending; so I wish you good night.