William and Ellen- Red Jules Napier, Black Jules Napier, Chester Staffer; Hazard, KY, 1913* Collected by Niles
[John Jacob Niles, from Ballad Book, version B; 1961. Niles also mentions writing it down in 1916, making it unclear of the date he collected this ballad. There's a mistake in the book in the first stanza text, I've corrected it by switching the last two lines, I'm sure Mr. Niles will be happy about that now- haha!
As with all of Niles' ballads- caveat emptor!
R. Matteson 2011, 2014]
William and Ellen (Niles No. 5 B) notes:
IN n blacksmith shop in Hazard, Ky, on April 7, 1913, I encounterecl a group of men who were celebrating an election victory. As well as I can remember, it concerned the election of a county school superintendent. I sang for them, and they sang for me. In my field notebook I find the results of that day, copied and dated July 4, 1916. It all stems from the singing of Red Jules
Napier ancl Black Jules Napier, both blacksmith's helpers, and Mr. Chester Staffer, a one-time schoolteacher in the neighborhood of Cumberland, Ky. The Napier boys (locally pronouncecl "Napper" ) were foils for one another. They could have been end men in a rninstrel show. Mr. Staffer prompted the performance and corrected the singers when they got off the melodic line. There was a considerable amount of good-natured argument and fun; at one point, there was a bit of name calling, but the Brothers Napier deciclecl to take Mr. Staffer's advice, and after that all went well. I think I should say that they always addressed the onetime schoolteacher as Mr. Staffer.
The Napier boys had been singers all their days, having been members of a "singing meeting" where hymns of the Sacred Harp and Southern Harmony variety were sung. But when they were away from church groups, they were noisy, combative, and amusing. They treated me with great consideration. I think this was because I was "well related" in the southeastern Kentucky counties, being blood-kin to the Tollivers. The itinerant Mr. Staffer, their constant companion, was a well-informed person who worked on a farm near cumberland and also in a ginseng arbor near Hazard.
Some years later I discovered that the Napier boys got into some local farnily trouble (the word "feud" is not generally accepted in the mountains), and went to Oklahotna for safety. I never saw Mr. Stafier again.
WILLIAM AND ELLEN- Napier brothers and Satffer; Hazard, KY, 1913[1]
[View Music]
1. Lord William fetched up his bride,
He fetched up his horse,
Said: "If we fail at the watery ford,
We'll suffer then a loss, a loss,
We'll suffer then a loss."[2]
2. His horse was named Pointed Star,
And then he quickly said,
"If you don't call me by my name,
We'll leave them all cold dead, cold dead,
We'll leave them all cold dead
3. "Oh Ellen, Ellen, tell me true,
'Tis now You must decide,
It's go back to Your mother dear
Or slay and die my bride, my bride,
Or stay and die my bride."
4. There was no wedding on that day,
No wedding on that night,
For they were dead and laid to rest
With chant and candlelight, light, light.
With chant and candlelight.
5. His mother died account of grief,
Of sorrow died his bride,
And there they laid the three to rest
In churchyard side by side, side, side,
In churchyard side by side.
6. Come all young men and ladies,
Who yearn for love's delight,
Remember how Lord William's rose
Hugged Ellen's briar so tight, so tight,
Hugged Ellen's briar so tight.
1. Niles also mentions writing it down in 1916, making it unclear of the date he collected this ballad
2. There's a mistake in the book here, I've corrected it by switching the last two lines, I'm sure Mr. Niles will be happy about that now- haha!