The Two Brothers- Freeman (NC) 1918 Sharp J
[Not necessarily a local title. From Cecil Sharp and Maud Karpeles: English Folk songs from the Southern Appalachians; Oxford, 1932.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
J. The Two Brothers. Sung by Mrs. LUCINDIE FREEMAN at Marion, N. C, Sept. 3, 1918
Hexatonic (no 4th).
1. Monday morning go to school,
Friday evening home.
Sister, comb my sweet-heart's hair
And welcome her at home.
2 It's O brother, O brother, don't play no game of ball,
Brother don't cast no stone,
Don't play no other game
As we go marching home.
3 I won't play no game of ball,
Nor neither cast no stone,
I won't play no other game,
But sister won't let me alone.
4 Brother pulled out his little penknife,
It was both sharp and keen.
He pierced his own brother to the heart,
It made a dreadful wound.
5 O brother, O brother, pull off your little check shirt,
Stitched from gore to gore,
And bind it around this dreadful wound
And it will bleed no more.
6 Brother pulled off his little check shirt,
Stitched from gore to gore,
And bound it around his dreadful wound,
And it did bleed no more.
7 O brother, go dig my grave,
Dig it wide and deep,
Bury a bible at my head
And a prayer-book at my feet.
8 He buried his bible at his head,
His prayer-book at his feet,
A bow and arrow by his side,
And now he lies asleep.