She Wears a Gold Ring- Blackett (VA) Sharp K
[My abbreviated title, replacing Young Beichan. Two stanza fragment with music from English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, 1932; Sharp and Karpeles, Vol. I. Joe Blackett is really the old-time banjo player and singer Joe "Dad" Blackard, who at that time was the postmaster in Meadows of Dan, Virginia. (See: Shelor Family)
The first verse is usually a late middle verse where the porter describes the Turkish lady to Lord Bateman after she arrives at his hall (castle).
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
K. [She Wears a Gold Ring]. Sung by Mr. JOE BLACKETT ("Dad" Blackard) at Meadows of Dan, Va., Aug. 28, 1918
Heptatonic. Mixolydian.
She wears a gold ring on all of her fingers,
And on the middle finger three;
And the chain that she wears around her middle
Would buy your bride and company.
He sailed, he sailed the ocean round
Until he came to the Turkish shore,
And there he was taken and put in prison,
Where he could neither see nor hear.