Loving Henry- Majors (Kansas) c.1959 Max Hunter
[My date, no date given. From Max Hunter Folk Song Collection; Fran Majors sang several other ballads and songs for Hunter in 1959. I've done some minor editing to Hunter's text.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
Loving Henry- As sung by Fran Majors, Wichita, Kansas; c 1959
Listen: http://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=1400
VERSE 1
Get Down, get down, loving Henry, she said
An' stay all night with me
There's a chair for you and a chair for me
And a candle a burning free
Well, I can't get down Lady Marget, he said
An' stay all night with thee
For my only little girl in the Arkansas land
Will wait long for me coming home
VERSE 2
[Well he jumped down]from the bone of his saddle
Gave her kisses, one, two, three
She drew a sharp knife all in her right hand
An' pierced 'im both wide an' deep
Ride on, ride on, loving Henry, she said
And ride beneath the sun
For your only little girl in the Arkansas land
Will wait long for you coming home
VERSE 3
Well, I can't ride on, Lady Marget, he said
An' ride beneath the sun
For can't you see my own heart's blood
Come tricklin' down my knee
VERSE 4
Some taken him by the lily white feet
Some taken him by the hand
They dragged him out to the waters edge
And there they plunged him in
Lay there, lay there, loving Henry, she said
Till the meat rots of a your bones
For your only little girl in the Arkansas land
Will wait long for you coming home
VERSE 5
Fly down, fly down, pretty parrot, she said
An' set upon my knee
An' your cage shall be of the yella beaten gold
And the doors of the ivory
Well, I cain't fly down an' I won't fly down
An' set upon your knee
For a girl that'd murder her own true love
Would kill a little bird like me
VERSE 6
Well, I wish I had my new cedar bow
An' an arrow to fit my string
I'd shoot a dart thru that neat little nest
That looks so neat and clean
Well, you ain't got no new cedar bow
Nor an arrer[1] to fit your string
So, I sit right here in my old, old cage
An' sweet notes I will sing
1. arrow