The Brown Girl- Morris (Mo.) 1935 Randolph E
[Shortened version of 8 stanzas from Vance Randolph's Ozark Folksongs, vol. 1- Ballads, 1946. See McGill for similar opening stanza. Randolph was the first collector to abbreviate "the" as "th'." This has been used by Max Hunter, as an Ozark type of "I don't give a damn," statement. I don't get th' point!!! See below- he got the p'int.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
E. The Brown Girl- Contributed by Miss Lucite Morris, Springfield, Mo., Jan. 10, 1935. Miss Morris obtained it from Mrs. Levi Boswell, also of Springfield. Randolph E
Oh riddle this father, oh riddle this mother,
Oh riddle this unto me,
Whether I shall go to Lord Thomas's wedding
Or must I stay at home?
At home you know you have a friend,
Abroad a-many a foe,
Before I do a malevolous[1] trick
To Lord Thomas's wedding don't go!
She dressed herself in satin an' silk,
An' her habit dress of green,
An' every city she passed through
They took her to be some queen.
She rode an' she rode till she come to the gate
An' rattled on the ring,
There was no one so ready as Lord Thomas
To welcome fair Ellender in.
The brown girl had a little pen knife,
Both long an' keen an' sharp,
Between the long rib an' the short
She pierced fair Ellender's heart.
He had a sword all in his hand
As he walked through the hall,
He cut off the brown girl's head
An' threw it against the wall.
He placed the handle against the floor,
An' th' point against his breast,
Saving here goes three a-loving,
Lord, end their souls to rest.
Go dig my grave an' dig it quick,
An' dig it wide an' deep.
An' place fair Ellender in my arms
The brown girl at my feet.
1 marvelous?