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268 Indiana University Publications, Folklore Series
53 THE SKIN-AND-BONE LADY
For American texts, see Brown, p. 10; Cox, p. 482; Flanders and Brown, p. 180; Journal, XXVI, 142; Lomax, The North Carolina Booklet, July, 1911, XI, 29.
British versions appear in Christie, Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 240; Folk-Lore, XXII, 274; XXIV, 81; Halliwell, The Nursery Rhymes of EngÂland, 1842, p. 64, 180; Rimbault, Nursery Rhymes with Ancient Tunes, p. 32.
No title given. Contributed by Miss Mary E. Hayes, of Oakland City, Indiana. Gibson County. Obtained from an aunt, Mrs. Bertha H. Puller, of Inglewood, California, who learned it in Indiana. The latter writes: "This old song mother used to sing to us and frighten us nearly to death. I have since seen other words, but these are the words she sang—your father may recall it. . . . The dead was shouted at us in a loud weird cry, and was truly awful to young ears." May 12, 1935.
1. There was an old woman was heard to say, "I believe I'll go to church today."
2. And when she got to the churchyard stile, She thought she'd rest a little while.
3. And when she got to the churchyard door, She thought she'd rest a little more.
4. She first stepped up and then stepped down ; She saw a corpse lying on the ground.
5. The old lady to the parson said, "Will I look so when I am dead?" |
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