The Bailey's Daughter- Coberley (MO) 1959 Hunter
[from Max Hunter Collection/ Ozark Collection. Collected by Max Hunter, dubbed by M.C. Parler. Reel 351, Item 2. The first stanzas are missing.
R. Matteson 2015]
Listen: http://digitalcollections.uark.edu/cdm/ref/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/905
The Bailey's Daughter- sung by Mrs. Olive Coberley of Wheatland, Mo. November 26, 195
The Bailey's daughter took a walk one day,
The road being hot and dry,
And who did she meet but her own true love
As he came riding by.
She stepped up, to the horse's head
Took holt of the bridle rein,
Oh let me ride one mile, she said,
For to ease me of my aching pain.
Before I let you ride one mile,
Pray tell me from whence you came?
Oh I came from fair Azlum Town,
Where you have many a time been.
And how does the bailey's daughter do?
Perhaps you do her know,
Oh she is dead and in her grave lies,
These many a long years ago.
Go saddle me the old gray steed,
Go saddle him also,
That I may go to some foreign country
Where noone does me know.
Oh she's not dead, the lady said,
Oh she's not dead, she cried.
She's standing at your horse s head
Waiting for to be your bride.
He took her by the lily white hand,
Led her to fair Azlum Town,
And therehe made her his lawful wife
And they lived in fair Azlum Town.