Lonesome Valley- Walker (OK-MO) pre1906 Moores
[My title and date. From the Moore's book, Ballads and Folk Songs from the Southwest; 1964. Their notes follow.
R. Matteson 2016]
68. The Bramble Briar
The British title of this song, In Bruton Town, is seldom, if ever, applied to American texts, and Oklahomans give preference to The Bramble Briar. Henry M. Belden discusses the song in publications of the Modern Language Association, Vol. xxxIII , 327-95. other references are Belden, 109-11; Brewster, 193-95; cox, 305-302; Creighton and Senior, 141-42; Eddy, 85-87; Gardner and Chickering, 59-61; Journal, Vol. XX, 259 (Pettit), Vol. XXV, 359, Vol. XXIX, 169 (Tolman); Owens, 83-84; Pound, 53-57 ; and Randolph, I, 380-82
[The Lonesome Valley] The Bramble Briar, sung by Mrs. Opal Walker of Davenport. Mrs. Walker was born in Missouri and came to Oklahoma Territory in 1906.
So late one eve as they sat courting,
Her brothers listened to what was said,
Saying, "This courtship shall a-soon be ended,
And we'll force him along unto his grave."
Saying, "This courtship shall a-soon be ended,
And we'll force him along unto his grave."
They rose early the next morning,
A-hunting for to go;
They both insisted on this young man
To come and go along with them.
They both insisted on this young man
To come and go along with them.
They rode over hills and over mountains
And many places that were unknown
Till they came to the place called Lonesome Valley,
And there they killed him and left him alone.
Till they came to the place called Lonesome Valley,
And there they left him dead alone.
They got up, and on returning,
Sister asked where her true love was.
"He got lost in a game of hunting;
No more of him we saw or heard.
He got lost in a game of hunting;
No more of him we saw or heard."
She rose early the next morning,
Dressed herself, kept on her gloves,
Saying, "I'll ride over hills and over mountains
Till I seek the object of my love."
Saying, "I'll ride over hills and over mountains
Till I seek the object of my love."
She rode over hills and over mountains
And many a place that was unknown
Till she came to the place called the Lonesome Valley,
And there she found him dead and cold.
Till she came to the place called the Lonesome Valley,
And there she found him dead and cold.
His dark blue eyes were almost faded;
His lips were saltier than brine.
She knelt down and kissed him,
Saying, "Once a darling friend."
She knelt down and kissed him,
Saying, "Once a darling friend."
She rose up, and on returning,
Brother asked where she had been.
"Hold your tongue; you're a deceitful villain.
For the love of one, you both shall hang.
Hold your tongue; you're a deceitful villain.
For the love of one, you both shall hang."
They rose early the next morning
To start across the deep blue sea.
The sea ship sinking and the waves were dashing,
They both were drowned in the deep.
The sea ship sinking and the waves were dashing,
They both were drowned in the deep.