[How Came the Blood?] Edward- Claudia Roberts (Hot Springs, NC) 1945 Artus Moser
[My title. From Artus Moser's album entitled North Carolina Mountain Folksongs and Ballads, Folkways 1974. Artus Moser (1894-1992) was a ballad singer and collector from Hickory, North Carolina and spent much of his life in Swannanoa. This is same place Sharp collected his A version 'Edward' from Jane Hicks Gentry.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
[How Came That Blood?] Edward- Artus Moser learned this version from Claudia Roberts (Hot Springs, NC) in 1945
[Listen to Moser- 1974]
1. "How came that blood all over your sleeve,
Pray son, pray come tell unto me?"
"It's the blood of that old grayhound
That ran yon fox for me."
2. Oh it is too red for the blood of the grayhound
Pray son, pray come tell unto me?"
"It's the blood of that old bay horse
That plowed the field for me."
3. Oh it is too red for the blood of the old bay horse
Pray son, pray come tell unto me?"
"It's the blood of my dear brother
That rode along with me."
4. Oh, what did you both fallout about,
Pray son, pray come tell unto me?"
For cutting down the holly bush,
Which might have made a tree.
5. Oh, what will you do when your father comes home,
Pray son, pray come tell unto me?"
I'll set my foot in yonder ship
I'll sail along the sea.
6. Oh, what will you with your children three,
Pray son, pray come tell unto me?"
I'll leave them all along with you
To long remember me.
7. Oh, what will you with your house and farm,
Pray son, pray come tell unto me?"
I'll leave them all along with you
To maintain my children three.
8. "Oh, what will you do with your pretty little wife,
Pray son, pray come tell unto me?"
"She may set her foot in yonder ship
And sail along with me."
9. Oh, when are you ever coming back,
Pray son, pray come tell unto me?"
When the sun and moon both run together,
Which you know will never be.