Young Men and Maids- (KY) 1931 Jean Thomas
[Not informant named, date given or exact location sung. From: Devil's Ditties, compiled by Jean Thomas, 1931. This is a version of the "composed ballad" dating back to about 1810 in the US.
R. Matteson 2016]
Young Men and Maids- no informant named, from Jean Thomas of Kentucky 1931.
Young men and maids, pray lend attention
To these few words I'm going to write
Concerning a youth who I shall mention
Who courted a lady beauty bright.
It was his parents being cruel,
They strove to part them both night and day
A-parting him from his own dear jewel,
"She is poor, she is poor," they oft-times cried.
His true-love knowing his grief and sorrow
She wandered the woods and valleys round,
She wandered away to yon broad river
And under a tree the shade of a tree sat down.
Crying, "Shall I, or shall I never,
Or, shall I ever see my love [any]more?
Or shall I ever have the pleasure,
To kiss the man whom I adore?
Then she pulled out a silver dagger
And pierced it through her milk white breast
[text upcoming]