Two Brothers- Lay (Ark.) 1959 Max Hunter
Two Brothers- As sung by George Lay, Fayetteville, Arkansas on May 23, 1959 Max Hunter Folk Song Collections
[Listen: http://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=0334]
VERSE 1
And he came before his own parents door
His long yellow hair, for ta comb
Say brother, can you toss th ball
Or can you roll a stone
No, say brother, I'm too little and I'm too young
Go'way and let me alone
VERSE 2
He pulled his knife, all from his side
And he pierced it into his little brothers side
And out th blood did pour
VERSE 3
He tore his shirt off from his back
He ripped it from gore to gore
And he bound up those bleeding wounds
But still they bled th more
VERSE 4
Say brother, go and dig my grave
Go dig it long and deep
There a marble stone to my head and feet
Where none, no sound, no sleep
VERSE 5
Say brother, now when you go home
My Father will ask for me
O say, tell 'im I'm alone with my little school mates
So early I'll be at home
VERSE 6
Say brother, now when you go home
My Mother will ask for me
O say, tell 'er I'm gone to England
My long, long lesson for ta learn
VERSE 7
Say brother, now when you go home
My sister will ask for me
O say, tell 'er I'm lying in my own grave cold
So, no more she'll see of me
VERSE 8
She'll *harped the birds all from their nest
And the mulberrys off of th tree
And she'll *harped little fishes all out of the sea
And her own brother out'a his tomb
*edited from Max's transcription which has "harve"