US & Canada Versions: 83. Child Maurice
[The only US & Canada text, Gil Morissy, is a fragment from the recitation of Mrs. S. Walters, Rocky Harbour, NL, 1920, as published in Greenleaf and Mansfield, Ballads Sea Songs Newfoundland, p. 25.
Theme: A lady receives a letter from Gil Morissy and is so pleased her husband gets very jealous. He goes outside and finds the youth combing his yellow hair, challenges him to a battle, and kills him. The lady, who was the boy's mother, laments over the grave. The husband regrets his rash act on hearing the lament.
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
CONTENTS:
1) Gil Morissy- Walters, Rocky Harbour, NL, 1920
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Gil Morissy- from the recitation of Mrs. S. Walters, Rocky Harbour, NL from 1920.
1. "Here's a letter sent from Giles Morissy,
Sent carefully by me,
Here's a letter sent from Giles Morissy,
For to let no one see,"
2. "If it's a letter from Gil Morissy
It's welcome by me."
The lady's husband overheard these words and was jealous of Gil Morissy so he went out and,
3. He saw a youth on his milk-white steed,
Combing out his yellow hair.
He challenged him to a fight and killed him. The lady went out and made this lament over his grave, for he was her son.
4. I nursed you up in the good greenwoods,
Beneath all grief and shame,
5. I've sat you down in the cradle
And rocked you fast sleep.
And now I sit by your grave,
And bitter tears do weep.
The husband repiled:
6. If I'd have known Gil Morissy was your son,
He'd never been slain by me.