The Bonny Brown Girl- Scott (WV) c.1784 Boette
[This is the sole known traditional version found of Child 295A, with verses from 295B and two verses closer to The Cruel Nymph, an earlier broadside unknown to Child. It was collected in West Virginia in 1969 and published in Singa Hypsy Doodle (1971). This rare find, dating back perhaps to c. 1784, if legitimate, establishes the ballad as traditional. It has been overlooked because Boette wrongly label's this Child 73, her notes follow.
Here's some information about the informant: the late Winnifred June Brown Scott of Harrisville, WV was born June 20, 1914, she married Paul J. Scott and they had at least two children: Paul Wakefield Scott b. 1941 and James Lee Scott b. May 12, 1955. Their children may be alive.
The title is not taken from the text but is the same as Child 295A, which also does not have "bonny brown girl" in the text. If we assume that neither Juanita Dawson, who collected it, or Boette, who said it was a version of Child 73, assigned the title-- then the title is a mystery as well as the text.
Patrick Gainer, an associate of Boette's who also had ballads and songs published in Singa Hypsy Doodle, argues that he collected a version of 295B and if the ballad is legitimate he has a case. Most US versions are solely derived from "Sally" versions.
I've included Child 295A and 295B at the bottom, below the analysis by verse of this versions.
R. Matteson Jr.]
Boette's notes: According to Winnifred Brown Scott, who sang this song in 1969, her aunt, Sarah Brown Connolly, and her father, Emery Ellsworth Brown of Ritchie County, sang it too. They said the brothers in the family sang it to tease their sisters. The song went back to the family of John Brown who came to what is now Lewis County in 1784 and built the old Fort Mongue on White Oak Flats. Child No. 73 is usually known as "Lord Thomas and Fair Eleanor," "Fair Ellender" or the "Brown Girl." Found in many parts of America, this is a most unusual version in that the brown girl and the pretty fair maid change places.
The Bonny Brown Girl- Winnifred Brown Scott; 1969. Collected by Juanita Dawson.
1- I am as brown as brown can be, my eyes are black as a sloe,
I am as brisk as a nightingale and as wild as any doe.
2- My love he was so high and proud, his fortune too so high,
He for another fair pretty maid, he left me and passed me by.
3- Me did he send a love letter, he sent it from the town,
Saying no more he loved me for that I was so brown.
4- I sent his letter back again saying his love I valued not;
Whether that he would fancy me, whether that he would not.
5- When a six months were overpassed and gone
Then did my lover, once so bold, lie on his bed and groan.
6- First sent he for the doctor-man; "You, Doctor, me must cure,
These terrible pains do torture me, I can not long endure."
7- Next did he send from out the town, oh next he sent for me.
He sent for me the brown, brown girl who once his wife should be.
8- When I came to my sick love's bedside where he lay so dang'rous sick,
I could not for laughing stand upright upon my feet.
9- The white wand I held in my hand and stroked it on his breast;
"My faith and troth I give back to thee, so may thy soul have rest.
10- I've done as much for my true love as other maidens may,
I'll dance and sing on your grave a whole twelve month and a day."
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The Bonny Brown Girl- Verses compared to Child 295A, The Cruel Nymph and 295B; Sung by Winnifred Brown Scott; 1969. Collected by Juanita Dawson.
1- I am as brown as brown can be,
My eyes are black as a sloe,
I am as brisk as a nightingale
And as wild as any doe. [Child 295A- Verse 1; Cruel Nymph is same; Child B doesn't have "nightingale."]
2- My love he was so high and proud,
His fortune too so high,
He for another fair pretty maid,
He left me and passed me by. [Child 295B- Verse 2; Child A and Cruel Nymph missing this verse.]
3- Me did he send a love letter,
He sent it from the town,
Saying no more he loved me,
For that I was so brown. [Child 295B- Verse 3 and Child 295A- verse 2 same as Cruel Nymph; closer to 295B;]
4- I sent his letter back again,
Saying his love I valued not;
Whether that he would fancy me,
Whether that he would not. [Child 295b- Verse 4; Child 295A- Verse 3; slightly closer to 295B]
5- When a six months,
Were overpassed and gone
Then did my lover, once so bold,
Lie on his bed and groan. [Child 295B Verse 5; not found in 295A]
6- First sent he for the doctor-man;
"You, Doctor, me must cure,
These terrible pains do torture me,
I can not long endure." [Child 295B Verse 7 exactly; 295A does not have stanzas about the doctor]
7- Next did he send from out the town,
Oh next he sent for me.
He sent for me the brown, brown girl
Who once his wife should be. [Child 295B Verse 8 exactly]
8- When I came to my sick love's bedside
Where he lay so dang'rous sick,
I could not for laughing stand,
Upright upon my feet. [Child 295A- verse 6 not in first person; The Cruel Nymph, verse 6 is almost exact; compares not as well to 295B- verse 11]
9- The white wand I held in my hand,
And stroked it on his breast;
"My faith and troth I give back to thee,
So may thy soul have rest. [None except cruel Nymph in first person; closest to 295B but in first person]
10- I've done as much for my true love,
As other maidens may,
I'll dance and sing on your grave
A whole twelve month and a day." [Closest to Cruel Nymph and close to 295A; while 295B isn't close
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'The bonny Brown Girl'- Version A; Child 295A The Brown Girl
The Brown Girl's Garland, British Museum, 11621. c. 3 (10), n.d., before 1788.
1 'I am as brown as brown can be,
My eyes as black as a sloe;
I am as brisk as a nightingale,
And as wilde as any doe.
2 'My love has sent me a love-letter,
Not far from yonder town,
That he could not fancy me,
Because I was so brown.
3 'I sent him his letter back again,
For his love I valu'd not,
Whether that he could fancy me
Or whether he could not.
4 'He sent me his letter back again,
That he lay dangerous sick,
That I might then go speedily
To give him up his faith.'
5 Now you shall hear what love she had
Then for this love-sick man;
She was a whole long summer's day
In a mile a going on.
6 When she came to her love's bed-side,
Where he lay dangerous sick,
She could not for laughing stand
Upright upon her feet.
7 She had a white wand all in her hand,
And smooth'd it all on his breast;
'In faith and troth come pardon me,
I hope your soul's at rest.
8 'I'll do as much for my true-love
As other maidens may;
I'll dance and sing on my love's grave
A whole twelvemonth and a day.'
'The brown, brown girl'- Version B; Child 295B The Brown Girl
Taken down lately by Rev. S. Baring-Gould from a blacksmith, [John Woodrich] parish of Thrushleton, Devon.
1 'I am as brown as brown can be,
And my eyes as black as sloe;
I am as brisk as brisk can be,
And wild as forest doe.
2 'My love he was so high and proud,
His fortune too so high,
He for another fair pretty maid
Me left and passed me by.
3 'Me did he send a love-letter,
He sent it from the town,
Saying no more he loved me,
For that I was so brown.
4 'I sent his letter back again,
Saying his love I valued not,
Whether that he would fancy me,
Whether that he would not.
5 'When that six months were overpassd,
Were overpassd and gone,
Then did my lover, once so bold,
Lie on his bed and groan.
6 'When that six months were overpassd,
Were gone and overpassd,
O then my lover, once so bold,
With love was sick at last.
7 'First sent he for the doctor-man:
'You, doctor, me must cure;
The pains that now do torture me
I can not long endure.'
8 'Next did he send from out the town,
O next did send for me;
He sent for me, the brown, brown girl
Who once his wife should be.
9 'O neer a bit the doctor-man
His sufferings could relieve;
O never an one but the brown, brown girl
Who could his life reprieve.'
10 Now you shall hear what love she had
For this poor love-sick man,
How all one day, a summer's day,
She walked and never ran.
11 When that she came to his bedside,
Where he lay sick and weak,
O then for laughing she could not stand
Upright upon her feet.
12 'You flouted me, you scouted me,
And many another one;
Now the reward is come at last,
For all that you have done.'
13 The rings she took from off her hands,
The rings by two and three:
'O take, O take these golden rings,
By them remember me.'
14 She had a white wand in her hand,
She strake him on the breast:
'My faith and troth I give back to thee,
So may thy soul have rest.'
15 'Prithee,' said he, 'Forget, forget,
Prithee forget, forgive;
O grant me yet a little space,
That I may be well and live.'
16 'O never will I forget, forgive,
So long as I have breath;
I'll dance above your green, green grave
Where you do lie beneath.'