[Seven Brothers All] Earl Brand- Mrs. Moore (Georgia) 1909, Sharp D; Rawn/Campbell
[My title, replacing the generic Child title. From Sharp/Campbell, English Folk Songs From The Southern Appalachian, 1917, This is, to my knowledge, the earliest Appalachian version of the ballad of Earl Brand collected. Verse 3, which is usually mangled, is correct here.
This version was not collected by Sharp but was sent to him from Mrs. Campbell's collection which was a collaboration with other members of the Council of Southern Mountain Workers, in this case it was Isabel Rawn of the Martha Berry School of Georgia, who was not credited in either the 1917 or the 1932 edition of EFSSA. (ref. In the world of my ancestors: The Olive Dame Campbell Collection of Appalachian folk song, 1908-1916; Turner).
R. Matteson 2011, 2014]
[SEVEN BROTHERS ALL]- Mrs. Moore; Rabun Co., Georgia, in May 1909; Sharp D
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1. He rode up to the old man's gate,
So boldly he did say:
"You can keep your youngest daughter,
For the oldest I'll take away."
2 O rise you up, you seven brothers all,
And bring your sister down,
It never can be said that a steward's son
Shall take her out of town.
3. "I thank you, kind sir," said he,
"I am no steward's son;
My father's of the richest of kings
And my mother's a Quaker's queen."
4. She lit on the milk-white steed,
And he rode on the brown.
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5. Then they rode about three miles from town,
And then he cast his eyes all around,
And saw her father and seven brothers all
Come trickling down the plain.
6. "O, light you off, fair Ellen," said he,
"And hold my steed by the rein,
Till I play awhile with your father
And seven brothers all."
7. Fair Ellen she still stood there
And never changed a word
Till she saw her own dear seven brothers all
A-wallowing in their own blood.
8 Fair Ellen she still stood there
And never changed a note,
Till she saw her own dear father's head
Come tumbling by her foot.
9. "O hold your hand, sweet William," said she,
"Love runs free in every vein,
But father I have no more.
If you are not satisfied with this
I wish you were in your mother's chamberee
And I'se in some house or room."
10. "If I was in my mother's chamberee,
You'd be welcome there.
I'll wind you East, I'll wind you West,
I'll trip along with thee."
11 He rode up to his mother's gate
And jangled at the ring:
"O mother, dear mother, asleep or awake,
Arise and let me in."
12. "O sister, O sister, make my bed,
For my wound is very sore.
O mother, O mother, bind up my head,
For me you'll bind no more."
13. It was about three hours till day,
And the chickens crowing for day,
When every wound sweet William received,
The blood began to pour.
14. Sweet William he died like it was to-day,
Fair Ellender tomorrow;
Sweet William died from the wounds he received,
Fair Ellender died of sorrow.