In Strawberry Town- Whitcombe (So) 1906 Sharp
[From: Narrative Ballads by Lucy E. Broadwood, A. G. Gilchrist, Cecil J. Sharp, Clive Carey and Frank Kidson; Journal of the Folk-Song Society, Vol. 5, No. 19 (Jun., 1915), pp. 122-148; Published by English Folk Dance + Song Society. Their notes follow (see footnote).
R. Matteson 2016]
IN STRAWBERRY TOWN--SUNG BY MR. GEORGE WHITCOMBE, Noted by Cecil J. Sharp. AT WESTHAY, MEARE, SOMERSET; JAN. 19TH, 1906, AND JAN. 15TH, 1907.
1 In Strawberry Town there lives a farmer
He had two sons and one daughter dear,
By day and night he got deluded,
Which caused their parents moore's hearts with care.[1]
2 What do you think o' our servant man,
I think our servant man court our sister,
I think they have a great mind to wed;
We'll put an end to all their courtship
And send him silent to the grave."
3 A match of hunting it was prepared
Through woods and valleys where briars grow,
And there they did this young man murder
And in the brake his body throw.
4 As they was returning home from hunting,
Not thinking on the harm they'd done:
"You're welcome home, my poor dear brothers,
And now pray tell me where the serving-man?"
5 As they was returning home from hunting
Not no sight of him could she see:
"Since, dear sister, you do offend us
And straightly examine me."
6 Then to bed this fair maid went
Lamenting for her own true love;
She dreamt she saw her own true lover
Covered over in a gore of blood.
7 'You rise up early to-morrow morning
And straightway early to brake you know
And there you find my body laying
Covered over in a gore of blood."
8 She took her handkerchief from her pocket
And wiped his eyes though he was blind,
"Because he was some true lover,
Some true lover a friend of mine.
9 And since my brothers have been so cruel
To take your tender sweet life away
One grave shall hold us put together
And laying to you till death I'll stay."
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Footnote and notes:
1. The fourth line in the first verse of "In Strawberry Town" should probably run somewhat thus:
"Which caused his parent's heart remorse and care."
The text of this one is the most corrupt of the three versions of which another is in this Journal (see "Lord Burling's Sister," where references concerning the history of the ballad are given).-L. E. B.
There is a version of this ballad, obtained from New Forest gypsies, in Miss Gillington's Songs of the Open Road, under the title of "The Brake o' Briars." See note on "The Brisk Young Lady."-- A. G. G.
* See my note on this song, showing that the two ballads have been mixed up by gypsy singers.-A. G. G.