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Brewster: Ballads and Songs of Indiana 281
60 AN OLD WOMAN'S STORY
This song, the title of which has been supplied, is known in Scotland as "The Wily Auld Carle" or "The Wife of Kelso." It should be carefully distinguished from "Johnny Sands," with which it has often been confused.
Texts and references will be found in Belden's Missouri collection; Campbell and Sharp, No. 45; Cox, p. 464; Journal, XXVIII, 174; XXIX, 178; XXXV, 385; Pound, No. 48; PTFLS, X, 165; Scarborough, Song Catcher, p. 239; Shearin and Combs, p. 10; Neely, Tales and Songs of Southern Illinois, p. 151 ("The Old Woman from Slab City").
No title given. Contributed by Mrs. Oda Bearing, of Oakland City, Indiana. Gibson County. Traditional in her family. "This song was taught by my great-grandmother Coleman to my grandmother Evans. She taught it to my mother, Mary Way, and I learned it from her." June 24, 1935.
1. There was an old woman, in Ireland she did dwell;
She loved her husband dearly, but another'n twice as well. Sing Dear, 0 Dear, what ails you? Think, sez I, what ails you? What can the matter be?
2. She went unto the doctor to see if she could find Anything at all at all to make the old man blind.
Sing Dear, 0 Dear, what ails you? Think, sez I, what ails you? What can the matter be?
3. She got six mar1 bones and made him eat them all, Which made the old man so blind he could not see at all.
Sing Dear, 0 Dear, what ails you? Think, sez I, what ails you? What can the matter be?
4. The old man says, "I'll destroy myself if I can find the way**; The old woman said, "I'll go along for fear he runs astray."
Sing Dear, 0 Dear, what ails you? Think, sez I, what ails you? What can the matter be? |
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* For morrow. |
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