Ballads & Songs of Southern Michigan-songbook

A Collection of 200+ traditional songs & variations with commentaries including Lyrics & Sheet music

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Unhappy Love                       89
23 THE SILVER DAGGER
For the fusion of this song and "The Drowsy Sleeper" and for a similar version see Kittredge, JAFL, XXX, 338, 361-363. For texts and references see Cox, pp. 350-352 See also Barbour, JAFL, XLIX, 211-213; Eddy, Nos. 86a and 127; Hudson, JAFL, XXXIX, 129-132; and Sharp, II, 229-230. The present version is from the Tuthill manuscript.
1    Come people, young and old, come listen to my
tragety; 'Twill make your blood run cold. 'Tis as crule an af are as ever mentioned Concerning a fare and a beauty bride. A young man he coarted her to be his darling, Loved her as he loved his life, And many the time he loved her, he vowed, Promising to make her his lawful wife.
2   As soon as this old man came to here this, He stroved to part them night and day, Parting from his own dear jewel.
"She's poor, she's poor," he would ofttimes say.
Down on his bended knees he bowed,
Saying, "Father, pity me,
To her, to her my love I vowed,
What would this world be without her to me?"
3  As soon as this young girl came to hear this, She quickly thought what she might do. She wandered forth and left the city,
No more its plesent walks to view.
She wandered down by a flowing river,
There for death she did prepare,
Saying, "Here I am in my youthful mourning,
I am sank in deep despare."
4   Out she drew a silver dager,
Pearced it through her snowey white breast. First she reeled and then she staggered, Saying, "Oh my dear, I am going to rest." He being nigh her in the thicket Thought he heard his trew love's voice-