Willie Campbell- Smith (VA) 1912 Davis AA
[When Davis published this version in "More Traditional Ballads (1960)," he was quick to point out the rarity of the ballad. However his source, The Smiths of Palmyra, VA is questionable and this is probably a ballad recreation. The text seems traditional but because of "other" recent contributions, like "The Bugle Boy" (Child 299, see: notes on their version) and "King Orpheo" (once Child 19 now changed to Child 27) and the Two Sisters their contributions are suspect. Thomas Smith, originally from Zionville, NC was a contributor also to the Brown Collection.
Their contributions in "More Traditional Ballads" all seem to be sung "in the Smith family for over 100 years." It is likely that Thomas Smith was well aware of the Child Ballads and had access, as a collector for the Brown Collection, to information about these ballads. At least one of the Smith contributions (see: two sisters) I have proven was a forgery of Child A which was submitted to the Brown Collection but rejected before it was accepted by Davis years later after the Smiths moved to Virginia.
The text was sent by the Smiths in a (handwritten) manuscript. Why didn't Davis try to record or get the music for this rare ballad? The larger question is: Why didn't Thomas Smith give this version to the Brown Collection if he had it in 1912-- since he was submitting ballads around 1914? The reason is: this is a recent ballad recreation.
R. Matteson 2013, 2016]
AA. "Willie Campbell." Collected by R. E. Lee Smith, of Palmyra, Va. Sung by his brother, Thomas P. Smith, of Palmyra, Va., and himself. Fluvanna County. July 9, 1931. A note on the manuscript reads: "Sang by Mrs. Chany Smith of Zionville, N. C., 1912. This song has been sang in the Smith family for over 100 years."
1. High up in the mountains,
On the river Tay,
Gallant Willie Campbell
Rode out so gay.
2 He was saddled and bridled
And boldly rode he,
And home come his horse,
But never comes he.
3 Out come his mother dear,
Weeping and wringing her hands,
And out come his own wife,
Tearing her hair.
4 The meadows lies green,
And the corn is unshocked
But gallant Willie Campbell
Will never come back.
5 Saddled and bridled
And boots on rode he,
A feather in his helmet
And a sword at his knee.
6 But home come his saddle
All bloody, you see,
And home come his horse,
But never comes he.