Two Lovers Set Sparking- High (AR) 1951 BK REC
[From: page 34 of "Old, OLD FOLK SONGS" c. 1951 by Fred High of Berryville, Arkansas. Also a recording may be accessed via Ozark Folksong site See link below).
R. Matteson 2016]
Two Lovers Set Sparking- as sung by Fred High of Berryville, Arkansas. From the Haynes (Translated R. Matteson, 2016)
One evening late as they set sparking[1],
Her brothers chanced come overhear,
Said: Your courtships they will soon be over
For we will march him right along to his grave.
Next morning as they arose,
A game of hunting for to go
And on this young man they insisted,
That he should go along with them.
They rode over hills and over valleys,
And over land that was unknown
And they rode till they come to the Lonesome Valley
And there they killed him dead alone.
That evening late as they was returning
Their sister asked for the servant boy,
Saying: We've lost him in our game of hunting
And no more of him could've ever find.
That evening late as she lie weeping
He appeared to her bedside;
Saying: Your brothers have killed me both[2] rash and cruel
And here I lie in a gore of blood.
Next morning early she arose,
And dressed herself in rich array,
Saying: I'll ride, I'll ride to the end of the mountain,
Or seek the object of my love.
She rode over hills and over valleys
And over land which was unknown
And she rode and she rode till she come to the lonesome valley
And there she found him dead alone.
His red rosy cheeks they had all faded
And his lips was of a salty brine;
And she kissed them o'er and o'er a-crying
Saying Darling bosom friend of mine.
That evening late as she was returning
Her brothers asked where she had been;
Oh hold your tongue you deceitful villains
For dead alone you both shall hang.
Next morning early as they arose
And started over the ocean deep
The waves they did over come them
And now they are both moulderin' in the deep
by the Haynes
1. courting
2. originally "with"
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On page Page 34 of OLD, OLD FOLK SONGS c. 1951 by Fred High of Berryville, Arkansas, comes this version (reproduced exactly as printed :)
TWO LOVERS SET SPARKING
One evening late as they set sparking her brothers
Chance come over here says your-court-ships they will
soon B over for we will march him right along to his grave
Next morning as they arose a game of hunting for to go
& on this young man they insisted that he
Should go along with them
They rode over hills & over vallies & over land that
was unknown & they rode till they come to the lonesome
Valley & there they killed him dead alone
That evening ate as they was returning their sister
Asked for the survent boy says Ive lost him in our game
of hunting & no more of him could've ever find
That evening [l]ate as she lye-weeping he appeared to her
bed side says your brothers have killed me with rush
& crual & here i lye in agoar of blood
Next morning earley as she arose & dressed her self
in rich-eare says ile ride ile ride to the end of
the mountain or seak the object of my love.
She rode over hills & over vallies & over land which
was unknown & she rode & she rode till she come to
The lone-some-valley & there she found him dead alone
His red rosey cheeks they had all faded & his lips
Was of a salty bryne & she kissed them over & ore a
crying says a darling busem friend of mine
That evening late as she was returning her brothers
Asked where she had ben. oh hold your tongue u deseite
Ful villings for dead alone U both shall hang
Next motning early as they arose & started over the
Ocean deep the waves they did over come them & now
They are both mouldern in the deep
by the Hayneses
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<a href="http://digitalcollections.uark.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/3958/rec/6">http://digitalcollections.uark.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/3958/rec/6</a>
Collected by Irene Carlisle Transcribed by Nathaniel Lucy; Reel 127, Item 7
Two Lovers Set Sparking --Sung by Fred High High, Arkansas May 31, 1951;
One evening late as they set sparking
Her brothers chance come over here
Said “Your courtships, they will all soon be ended
For we’ll march him right along to his grave.”
Next morning early as they arose
A game of hunting for to go
And on this young man they insisted
That he might go along with them
Oh they road over hills and over valleys
And over land which was unknown
On they rode til they come to the lonesome valley
And there they killed in dead alone.
That evening late as they were turning
Their sister asked where- for the servant boy
Says we lost him in our game of hunting
And no more of him could we ever find.
That evening late as she lie weeping
He appeared to her bedside
Says “Your brothers have killed me with rushing cruel
And here I lie in a gore of blood”
Next morning early she arose
And dressed herself in rich-a-ree [array]
Saying “I’ll ride, I’ll ride to the end of the mountain
Or seek the object of my love.
And she rode over hills and over valleys
And over land which was unknown
And she rode til she come to the lonesome valley
And there she found him dead alone
His red rosy cheeks, they had all faded
And lips were of a salty brine
And she kissed him o’er and o’er crying
Saying “Darling bosom friend of mine.”
That evening late she returning
Her brothers ask where she had been
“Oh hold your tongue you deceitful villians
For dead alone you both shall hang”
Next morning early as they arose
And started o’er the ocean deep
The waves, they did overcome them
And now they both moldering in the deep.