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Brewster: Ballads and Songs of Indiana 329
81 THE FATAL WEDDING
Four texts of this song have been recovered, and doubtless many others could easily be secured, as "The Fatal Wedding" was once extremely popular in this section.
Other American texts are to be found in Belden's collection (MisÂsouri); Hudson, No. 56; Hudson, Folksongs, p. 195; Pound, No. 63; Neely, Tales and Songs of Southern Illinois, p. 163; and Spaeth, Read 'Em and Weep, p. 172. See also Greenleaf and Mansfield, p. 368 (no variant given, but see headnote).
"The Fatal Wedding." Contributed by Mr. Gene Enlow, of Oakland City, Indiana. Gibson County. Obtained from his grandfather, Mr. WilÂliam Finch. No date given.
1. The wedding bells were ringing
On a moonlight winter night; The church was decorated;
All within was gay and bright.
2. A woman with her baby came
And saw the lights aglow, And thought of how these same bells chimed For her three years ago.
3. "I'd like to be admitted, sir,"
She told the sexton old, "Just for the sake of baby,
To protect him from the cold."
4. He told her that the wedding there
Was for the rich and grand; Amid the eager waiting throng Outside she'd have to stand.
5. She asked the sexton once again
To let her step inside; "For baby's sake you may step in/' The gray-haired man replied. |
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