The Grey Cock- Gentry (NC) 1916 Sharp
[From English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians I, 1917 and 1932; Sharp and Campbell with Karpeles editor.
This rare version is from Jane Hicks Gentry (b. 1863) was Sharp's leading informant, a Madison County singer. The Hicks/Harmon family ballads were learned in Watuaga County from the Big Sammy Hicks/ Council Harmon family nucleus. Big Sammy was Council's grandfather, Council's father Andrew married Sabra Hicks who was Big Sammy's daughter. Whew Andrew died suddenly after a tree fell on him, Council and his Brother Goulder lived with their mother's family- Council stayed for a time with Big Sammy and his son Little Sammy. Council's daughter Emoline Harmon was Gentry's mother.
Big Sammy (b. 1753) followed his father to Beech Mountain after David received a land grant in 1770. Since the ballad has rarely been found elsewhere in that region (except later generation family members- Hattie Presnell and Frank Proffitt, Hicks' son-in-law, who are part of the Beech Mountain group and Vergie Wallin, part of the Madison County group- whether Gentry is the Wallin source is unknown) I assume that the source is probably the Virginia colony.
R. Matteson 2013, 2016]
The Grey Cock- Sung by Jane Hicks Gentry (Hot Springs, NC) 1916 Sharp
1. All on one summer's evening when the fever were a-dawning
I heard a fair maid make a mourn.
She was a-weeping for her father and a-greiving for her mother
and a-thinking all on her true love John.
At last Johnny came and he found the doors all shut
And he ding-led so low at the ring
Then this fair maid she rose and she hurried on her clothes
To make haste to let Johnny come in.
2 All around the waist he caught her and unto the bed he brought her,
And they lay there a-talking awhile.
She says: O you feathered fowls, you pretty feathered fowls,
Don't you crow till 'tis almost day,
And your comb it shall be of the pure ivory
And your wings of the bright silveree (or silver grey).
But him a-being young, he crowed very soon,
He crowed two long hours before day;
And she sent her love away, for she thought 'twas almost day,
And 'twas all by the light of the moon.
3 It's when will you be back, dear Johnny,
When will you be back to see me?
When the seventh moon is done and passed and shines on yonder lea,
And you know that will never be.
What a foolish girl was I when I thought he was as true
As the rocks that grow to the ground;
But since I do find he has altered in his mind,
It's better to live single than bound.