The Mill Boy- Mrs. McCracken (AR) 1950 Parler F
[Ozark Folk Song Collection- online; Reel 22 Item 3. Collected by Merlin Mitchell, transcribed by Kyle Perrin.
Listen:
http://digitalcollections.uark.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/2075/rec/10
**Compare to the Waxward Girl, reel 8, Item 4.
R. Matteson 2106]
The Mill Boy- sung by Mrs. Dan McCracken (Daughter) Fayetteville, Ark. (guitar) March 3, 1950
My tender parents brought me here,
provided for me well,
And in the city of Lexington
they placed me in a mill,
There was a pretty fair maiden there,
on her I cast an eye,
I told her that I would marry her
and she believed a lie.
Last Saturday night three weeks ago,
cursed would be the day,
Old Satan put it in my heart
to take her life away.
I went into her sister's room
at eight o'clock one night,
But little did that poor creature think
at her I had a spite.
I asked her if she would take a walk
just a little piece away,
That we might have a special talk
about our wedding day.
We walked together side by side
'til we came to a silent place,
I took a stick up from the fence
and hit her in the face.
She bowed down on her bended knees
and did for mercy cry,
Oh, Will, oh, Will, don't murder me
now for I'm unprepared to die.
I heeded but little to what she said
but I only struck her the more,
Until I saw the rivers of blood
that I never could restore.
I wound my hands in her coal black hair
as if to hide my sin,
I dragged her to the river side
and there I plunged her in.
And on my way back to my mill
I met my servant, John,
He asked me why I looked so pale
when yet I was so wan.
In ... canyon[1] there was so much blood
on both a-my hands and clothes,
I answered him with one reply,
from bleeding at the nose.
I went on into my room,
thinking of taking a rest,
I felt the very flames of Hades
burning in my breast.
It was three weeks, three weeks or more
before this maiden was found,
Her body came floating down the little stream
that flowed through Lexington.
They taken me upon surprise,
no one to go my bail,
They taken me to Lexington
and placed me in a jail.
Her sister swore my life away
without one fear or doubt,
She swore that I was the very young man
that taken her sister out.
Come all you rambling, roving boys,
a warning from this take[2],
And to your loves prove true,
And never let old Satan
get the upper hand of you.
1. In asking why there was. . .
2. usually this line is omitted