Waxwerd Girl- Fred High (AR) 1951 Hunter I
[From Missouri State; Max Hunter Folk Song Collection; Cat. #1407 (MFH #670). Minor editing. High (1878-1962) published his version in 1951 in his own small book. Title could be "Waxword Girl." He made two additional recordings for Parler in the 1950s. The date he learned it should be circa 1893.
Listen: https://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=1407
R. Matteson 2016]
Waxwerd Girl - As sung by Fred High, High, Arkansas c 1951
VERSE 1
Was in the land of Nero
I used to live and dwell;
T'was in the town of Waxwerd
I owned a flour mill.
VERSE 2
I fell in love with a Waxwerd girl
An' she in love with me
I asked her to marry me,
T'was at her own comply.
VERSE 3
We was t' meet down at her Sister's house
At nine a'clock that night.
An' take a walk down by the riverside
Our wedding to provide.
VERSE 4
We walked over hills an' valleys
Till we come to level ground
I up'ed with a fence stake
I knocked the fair maid down
VERSE 5
She fell all to her bended knees
O, Johnny, Johnny, she cried
O, Johnny, Johnny, don't murder me here,
For I'm not prepared to die
VERSE 6
He taken no heed to her dying cause
But laid it on the more
Til the ground, all around 'em
Was covered with bloody mud.
VERSE 7
He taken her by the flaxen hair
And dragged her 'round an' 'round
And throwed her in the river
That run thru Waxwerd town.
VERSE 8
Lie there, lie there you Waxwerd girl
Lie there, lie there, he cried
Lie there, lie there, you Waxwerd girl
To you, I'll never be tied.
VERSE 9
He walked o' back to his Mother's house
At eleven o'clock that night;
His Mother being in trouble
He raised a terrible fright.
VERSE 10
My Son, my Son, what have you done
That's bloodied up your clothes
The answer that he give her
Been bleeding at the nose.
VERSE 11
He first called for a candle
To light him off to bed
And next for a napkin
To wrap around his head
VERSE 12
He groaned upon his pillow
No peace, no rest, could he find
For the flames of Hell shined around him
An' Waxerd girl behind.
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http://digitalcollections.uark.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/1394/rec/24
Collected by MerlinMitchell Transcribed by Kyle Perrin Fred High Reel 8 Item 4 High, Ark. February 20, 1950
The Waxward Girl
In the land of Nero
I use to live and dwell,
'Twas in the town of Waxward
I owned a flour mill.
I fell in love with a Waxward girl and she in love with me, I asked her to marry me, it was at her own comply. We was to meet down at her sister's house at nine o'clock that night, And take a walk down by the river side our wedding to provide. We walked over hills and valleys 'tilwe come to level ground, I up with a fence stake, I knocked the fair maid down. She fell onto her banded knee, Oh, Johnny, Oh, Johnny, she cries, Oh, Johnny, Johnny, don't murder me here, for I'm not prepared to die. So, he took no heed to the dying cause, but laid it on the more, 'Til the ground all around him was covered with bloody mud. He taken her by the flaxen hair and dragged her 'round and around, And throwed her in the river that run through Waxward town. Lie there, lie there, you Waxward girl, lie there, lie there, he cried, Lie there, lie there, you Waxward girl, to you I 'll never be tied. He rode on back to his mother's house at eleven o'clock that night, His mother, being in trouble, he raised a tearful' (fright). My son, my son, whathave you done that bloodied up your clothes, The answer that he give her, Been bleeding at the nose. He first called for a candle to light him off to bed, And next for a napkin to wrop around his head. He groaned upon his pillow, no peace, no rest cculd he find, For the flames of Hell shined 'round him and the Waxward girl behind.
It was six long days and six long nights
Before this maid was found,
Found floating down by her brother's door,
way down in Lawport(?) town.
"That's all I know of it. There's another verse but I never could sang it."
http://digitalcollections.uark.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/OzarkFolkSong/id/4541/rec/25
Collected by Irene Carlisle Transcribed by Nathaniel Lucy Sung by Fred High High, Arkansas May 31, 1951 Reel 127, Item 2 Waxweed Girl Fred High: Now this is the “Waxweed Girl” that I used to sing when I was a boy and I’ll sing it now although I’m a-gettin’ old and my voice is not so well as it used to be.
In the land of Nero I used to live and dwell
Twas in the town of Waxward I owned a flourmill
I fell in love with a Waxward girl
And she in love with me
I ask her to marry me
It was at her own comply
Was was to meet down by- down at her sister’s house
At nine o’clock that night
And take a walk down by the riverside
Our wedding to provide We walked over hills and valleys Til we come to level ground I upped with a fence stake I knocked the fair maid down She fell all to her bended knees “Oh Johnny, Johnny!” she cried “Oh Johnny, Johnny don’t murder me here For I’m not prepared to die” He took no heed to the dying cause But laid it on the moor Til all the ground around him Was covered in bloody mur- He took her by her flaxen hair And dragged her round and round And throwed her in the river That run through Waxward town“Lie there, lie there you Waxward girl Lie there, lie there” he cried “Lie there you Waxward girl To you I’ll never be tied” He walked back to his mother’s house At eleven o’clock that night His mother being in trouble He - - - a tearful fright “My son, my son what have you done That’s bloodied up your clothes?” The answer that he give her “Been bleeding at the nose” He first called for a candle To light him off to bed And next for a napkin To wrap around his head He groaned upon his pillow No peace, no rest could he find For the flames of Hell shined ‘round him And the Waxward girl behind
It was six long days and six long nights
Before this maid was found
Found floating by brother’s door
Way down in Logport town