Joseph and Mary- Fidler (WV) c1924 Woofter/Combs
[From: Folk-Songs of the Southern United States, 1925 reprinted 1965 with Wilgus editor. Wilgus added this version C text in the 1965 edition from Combs Collection. Carey Wooter has been brought under suspicion by Linfors and Wilgus for re-creating ballads from the Child texts. Woofter managed to find 3 texts where Cox couldn't find one.
This is Child B with a twist. The added stanza deflect the obvious copy. The most amusing changes are in the 5th stanza:
Joseph made her a reply
In words very tart,
"Let him bend the limb down
That got thee with brat."
Notes by Woofter and mainly Wilgus follow.
R. Matteson 2014]
C."Joseph and Mary." 11. Bessie Fidler, Linn, Gilmer-Co., W. Va., who learned it from her mother, who was born in Culpepper Co., Va. Contributed by Carey Woofier, 1924. "This ballad was given to me under protest and with the agreement that I would not show it to any of the others here, because it was not what a decent girl ought to say. The two stanzas which open and. close the ballad are peculiar, I have a sort of remembrance of an old song which went in part:
To-day is the day we give babies away,
With half a Pound' of tea;
If you see any ladies without any babies,
Just send' them around' to me'
Oh all you young ladies,
From near and from far;
Beware of the sailor
With the bright morning star.
I cannot recall any more of this jig; and do not know to what it refers or of what it may be a part; but I'm inclined to think it is part of an old blackguard song "jimmy Taylor-O" we used to sing when running timber"- C.W.
Woofter's inclination seems correct- the blackguard song "Jimmy Taylor-O" has not to my knowledge been published. Roger D. Abrahams has pointed out to me that since the-"bright morning star" refers to a flower in the West Indies, the reference in the shanty may be to defloration. The "Today is the day we give babies away" portion seems widespread as a rhyme or song, as a lumber of persons from various sections of the United States recall it from their youth. I knew it in Ohio coupled with "I like to go swimming with bowlegged women." Rosalie Sorrels performs a version from Utah on Rosalie's Songbag, Prestige,/International 13025.
Otherwise, this variant is essentially Coffin B:
Come all ye young ladies
From near and from far;
And I'll tell you the story
Of the bright morning star.
When Joseph was married
And Mary had home brought,
Mary was got with child
And Joseph knew it not.
Mary and Joseph
Went walking one day,
And saw the cherries red
On all the little trees.
Mary asked of Joseph,
With words meek and mild,
"Joseph, bend down the limb,
For I am with child."
Joseph made her a reply
In words very tart,
"Let him bend the limb down
That got thee with brat."
The Lord spoke in Heaven,
Saying these words,
"Bend over, little cherry tree,
While Mary gathers some."
The cherry tree bent down,
All low to the ground,
And Mary gathered cherries
While Joseph stood around.
As Joseph stood a-gawking,
He heard an angel sing,
"Soon shall be born
Our heavenly King.
"He shall not lay
In bed nor in crib,
But his head shall rest
Upon the oxen's rib.
"He shall not be wrapped
In silk nor satin bright,
But his didy will be pinned
By the lantern light."
Now all ye young ladies,
From near and from far;
You have heard the story
Of the bright morning star.