Sonny Hugh- Hartsell (NC) 1951 Lumpkin
[From Southern Folk Ballads II, McNeil, 1988. Son Hugh is found in a number of versions. Apparently it is a mondegreen for Sir Hugh. This is a variation on Son Hugh.
R. Matteson 2015]
Sonny Hugh- Collected by Ben Gray Lumpkin from Mrs. Pearl Hartsell, Chapel Hill, NC September, 1951. Music by Helen Wilson.
'T was on a holly summer day.
Not a drop of dew had fell.
"I've come to play, boys!"
A-tossing their balls around, around, around.
A-tossing their balls around.
They tossed them high; they tossed them
They tossed them over the garden wall.
They tossed them over into Jewry's yard,
Where no one was allowed to go, go, go,
Where no one was allowed to go.
There came a lady to the door,
All dressed in silk and white.
"Come in, little boy; you shall have your
You shall have your ball tonight, tonight,
You shall have your ball tonight.
"I can't come in, I shan't come in,
Unless my playmates come with me;
For everyone that ever went in
That ever came out again, 'gain, 'gain.
That ever came out again."
She first showed him a big red apple.
Then she showed him a cherry.
Then she showed him a gold charm ring,
Which enticed the little boy in, in, in.
Which enticed the little boy in.
She took him by his little white hand.
She led him through the hall.
She led him into a back side room,
Where no one could hear him call, call, call,
Where no one could hear him call.
She placed him down in an easy chair.
She pierced him with her pin.
And in her bowl, her silver bowl,
She led his heart's blood in, in, in.
She led his heart's blood in.
His mother walking up and down,
With hickories in her hand.
"If only I could lend my little Sonny Hugh,
O, how I'd whip him home home, home.
O, how I'd whip him home."
She walked till she came to that great well
Which was so deep and cold.
"If you are here my little Sonnv Hugh,
I wish you'd speak to me, me, me,
I wish you'd speak to me."
"I am here, O Mother dear.
The pin she ran right my heart,
The red blood runs strong, strong, strong.
The red blood runs so strong.
"Go bury my Bible at my head.
My songbook at my feet.
And if any of my playmates ask for me,
Pray tell them that I'm asleep, sleep, sleep.
pray tell them that I'm asleep."