How Came That Blood? Medford (NC) 1916 Sharp C
[My title. From English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians by Sharp/Campbell I, 1917, with music. Three additional verses were taken from Sharp MS 3821/2804.
R. Matteson 2014]
C. How Came That Blood? Sung by Mr. STRAUDER MEDFORD at Balsam, Jackson Co., N. C, July 30, 1917
Pentatonic, Mode 4. If C be tonic:—Mode 3.
1. How came that blood on the point of your knife?
My son, come tell to me
It is the blood of my old coon dog
That chased the fox for me, O me,
That chased the fox for me.
How came that blood etc.
It is the blood of the olive bush
Which would have made a tree, etc.
How came that blood, etc.
It is the blood of my oldest brother
Who raised a row with me, etc.
What are you going to do with your little children?
O son, come tell to me.
I'll leave them here to stand around you
And cry after me when I'm gone.