Shrewd Maiden- Mace (OH) pre1939 (1922) Eddy
[Notes: "Katy Mory" in fifteen stanzas, the last two quite free in their nature, occurs in an American broadside of about 1830 (no imprint): "Katy Mory, and Poll and Mistress" (Harvard College). Stanza 8 of Tolman's text is not in the broadside; stanzas 2, 4, 9, II, 12, 14, 15, of the broadside, are not in Tolman.
It's titled "Shrewd Maiden" in Eddy's Ballads and Songs from Ohio and appears as "Katie Morey" in Traditional Texts and Tunes by Albert H. Tolman and Mary O. Eddy The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 35, No. 138 (Oct. - Dec., 1922), pp. 335-432.]
KATIE MOREY [Shrewd Maiden]
English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, No. 62 (2 texts and airs). This song has some resemblance to No. 112 in Child, "The Baffled Knight." Sung to Miss Eddy by Mrs. Betty Mace, Perrysville, O.
1. Come, all ye young and foolish lads,
Come listen to my story;
I'll tell you how I fixed a plan
To fool Miss Katie Morey.
Sing do ri id- die,
Sing do ri aye,
Sing do ri id-dle o dan- dy,
I'll tell you how I fixed a plan
To fool Miss Ka- tie Mor- ey.
2. I told her that my sister Sue
Was in yon lofty tower,
And wanted her to come that way
And spend one happy hour.
(Refrain.)
3. But when I got her to the spot,
Saying, "Nothing is the matter,
But you must die or else comply,
There is no time to flatter."
(Refrain.)
4. She squeezed my hand and seemed quite pleased,
Saying, "There is no fear, sir,
But father he is coming this way,
And he will see us here, sir.
(Refrain.)
5. "If you'll but go and climb that tree,
Till he does pass this way, sir,
Then we will gather grapes and plums,
And we will sport and play, sir."
(Refrain.)
6. I went straightway and clumb the tree,
Not being the least offended,
My true-love came and stood beneath,
To see how I ascended.
(Refrain.)
7. But when she got me to the top,
She looked up with a smile, sir,
Saying, "You may gather your grapes and plums,
And I'll run quickly home, sir."
(Refrain.)
8. I straightway did descend the tree,
A-coming with a bound, sir;
My true-love got quite out of sight
Before I reached the ground, sir.
(Refrain.)
9. But when my thoughts I did relent,
To see what I'd intended,
I straightway made a wife of her,
Then all my troubles were ended.
(Refrain.)