Young Johnny of Hazelgreen- Delorme (NY) c.1880; Flanders
[From Flanders; Ballads Migrant to New England. Lily "Grandma" Delorme was one of the best informants of Flanders and Olney (also porter who recorded 100 of her songs). Most of her ballads date back into the 1800s since she was born in 1869 and learned them from her family. This abbreviated version would equal six verses as Davis (Traditional Ballads of Virginia) has rendered the stanza divisions.
R. Matteson 2014]
Notes from Ancient Ballads:
The Flanders version is somewhat similar to this text, especially in the second and third stanzas, but it is even less complete. The song has been discussed frequently, partly because Sir Watter Scott composed his "Jock of Hazeldean" by completing a fragmentary version. The J version in Arthur Kyle Davis's Traditional Ballads of Virginia (Cambridge, Mass., 1929) shows how the poem and the traditional texts of the ballad have intermingled. See also BFSSNE, III, 9; Maurice Kelley's article in MLN, XLVI, 304; and Davis, op. cit.,529, for remarks along this line. "John of Hazelgreen" is not listed in Dean-Smith. However, Coffin, 158 (American) and Greig and Keith, 244-5 (Scottish) offer a small number of references.
As sung by Mrs. Lily Delorme of Cadyville, New York. Mrs. Delorme was born in Schuyler Falls, New York, in 1859. Her father was born in Starksboro, Vermont; her mother, in Schuyler Falls, New York. This ballad was learned in her home as a child. Published in Ballads Migrant in New England, 237. M. Olney, Mariorie Porter, Collectors; December 4, 1941. Structure: A1 A1 B A2 (4,4,4,4); Rhythm B; Contour: arc; Scale: major t. c. G. For mel. rel. see DV, 604 No. 49 (D).
Young Johnny of Hazelgreen- sung by Mrs. Lily Delorme of Cadyville, New York, circa 1880.
"Oh, what is the matter, my pretty fair maid;
What makes you sigh and moan?
Your father is dead and your mother's alive;
I dare you not go home?"
"My father is dead and my mother's alive
But I value it not a pin.
I am weeping for my own true love,
Young Johnny of Hazelgreen."
"Come, go with me, my pretty fair maid,
Come go along with me,
And I'll take you to as fine a lord
As ever you wish to see."
And when they came to the castle-gate,
Such a crowd there ne'er was seen,
And amongst the crowd was her own true love,
Young Johnny of Hazelgreen.
"You're welcome back, dear father," he said,
"You're welcome back to me;
You've brought me back my bonny fair bride
I thought I never should see,"
For twenty-five kisses he gave to her
Before he let her in, saying,
"I hope you'll make a virtuous bride
For Johnny of Ffazelgreen."