The Bamboo Briars- Hopkins (IN) 1935 Brewster
[From Brewster: Ballads and Songs of Indiana; 1940. Brewster A and B were sung by sisters, Mrs A.J. (Toole) Hopkins and Miss Tollie Toole, and are identical. The ballad was learned from their parents (Toole).
R. Matteson 2016]
32 THE BRAMBLE BRIAR
Two good texts of this song have been found in Indiana, both under the title "The Bamboo Briars." See, for a full discussion, Belden's paper, "Boccaccio, Hans Sachs, and The Bramble Briar" (PMLA, XXXIII, 327). For additional American texts, see Cox, p. 305; Journal, XX, 259; XXIX, 168; XXXV, 359; XLV, 49; XLVI, 25; Payne, PTFLS, II (1923), 6; Pound, p. 53; Campbell and Sharp, p. 151; Sewanee Review, XIX, 222, 321; Cox, Traditional Ballads, p. 57; Henry, Folk-Songs from the Southern Highlands, p. 161. British: JFSS, I, 160; II, 42; V, 123, 126.
"The Bamboo Briars." Contributed by Mrs. A. J. Hopkins, of Boonville, Indiana. Warrick County. April 3, 1935. With music.
Sung by Mrs. A. J. Hopkins; noted *by Miss Johnson.
1. In Smithford Town there lived a merchant
Who had two sons and a daughter fair
And an apprentice bound for to be his servant[1],
Who enraptured fell with the Lady Claire[2].
2. Ten thousand pounds was this lady's portion;
She was a meek and a comely dame.
And upon this young man who'd crossed the ocean
She did intend to bestow the same.
3. 'T was on one night when they were courting
Her brothers chanced to overhear.
"0 soon this courtship it shall be ended ;
We will send him headlong to his grave."
4. O friends, believe that on the morrow
A-hunting did these two brothers go,
And upon this young man they both did flatter
That he along with them should go.
5. They traveled over hills and mountains;
Through lonesome valleys they did go
Until they came to the Bamboo Briars,
And there they did him kill and throw.
6. When they returned home again,
She kindly asked for the servant man:
"I ask because you seem to whisper;
Pray, brothers, tell me if you can?'
7. 'T was late that night as she lay sleeping
He came to her bedside and stood.
She was covered over with tears a-weeping;
He was wallowed o'er with gores of blood.
8. "Don't weep for me, you charming creature;
It is but folly to repine.
Your brothers killed me, being rash and cruel;
In such a place, love, you may me find."
9. She traveled over hills and mountains;
Through lonesome valleys she did go
Until she came to the Bamboo Briars,
And there she found him killed and thrown.
10. His cherry cheeks with blood were dyed;
His ruby lips were salt as brine.
She kissed him over and over, crying",
"You dearest bosom friend of mine!"
11. Three days and nights she tarried by him,
A-kissing him on her bended knees,
Until sharp hunger came creeping on her
And forced her back to her home to go.
12. When she returned home again,
They kindly asked her where she'd been:
"O you false, deceitful, hard-hearted wretches,
For him alone you both shall hang!"
13. O friends, believe that on the morrow
To sea did these two villains go,
And the raging waves they now lie under;
The raging sea provides their graves.
1. indenture
2. this line is corrupt: perhaps derived from "to plough the ocean that raged so clear."