What Will You Do?- Michael (NC) 1939 Abrams
[Fragment from MS in Abrams Collection listed as Lizie Wan, Variant 2, Aug. 20, 1939 as collected by Chloe Michael. (W. L. Eury Appalachian Collection, Appalachian State University Contributors W. Amos Abrams) There is no indication that this is a rare version of Lizie Wan although both have similar endings and all three stanzas are ending stanzas. I'm classifying this as a fragment of Edward. It's rarely been viewed- hidden in the Abrams collection under the wrong heading- and is published here as a version of Edward for the first time.
Chloe Michael, a teacher at the Boone Demonstration School, began submitting ballads to Abrams c. 1937. She learned these ballads, which date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s, mainly from her mother, Florence Thomas Michael (1889-1922) and father David C. Michael.
R. Matteson 2014]
1."What will you do when your father comes home,
My son, come tell to me?"
"I'll set my foot in a ship, dear mother,
And sail the deep blue sea."
2."When are you coming home again,
My son, come tell to me?"
"When the moon turns into blood, dear mother,
And you know that will never be."
3."What will you do with your wife and child,
My son, come tell to me?"
"I'll leave them here with you, dear mother,
To keep you company."