Queen Jane- Thomas (KY) 1917 Sharp A
[From: English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, Vol 1, 1932 edition, by Cecil J Sharp, Maud Karpeles (Editor). Sharp's diary entry follows.
R. Matteson 2015]
Sharp diary 1917 page 257. Thursday 6 September 1917 - Beattyville
We hear there is a gasoline paddle boat which goes down the river to Malowby[?] — 3 miles on our way. So we take this at 8 a.m. & then walk on to the Dunagans buying a parcel of coffee & other dainties to take to the old lady. We get several more songs from her and a neighbour Mrs Thomas who looked in sang us a good version of Queen Jane — my 42nd Child! We like these people very much and sing many songs to them as well as they to us. No boat to help us on our way back so have to tramp it home arriving at 4 p.m. Our dysentery is rather better though Maud has still a good deal of pain. I fancy it is going slowly and that in a day or so we shall be all right. But we are both pretty weakened by it, though our weakness may be partly due to the lack of food. Feeding and accommodation here very indifferent. Can’t get anything done for us.
No. 32. The Death of Queen Jane
A. [Queen Jane] Sung by MRS. KATE THOMAS at St. Helen's, Lee Co., Ky., Sept. 6, 1917
Pentatonic. Mode 3.
1. Queen Jane was in labour
Six weeks and some more;
The women grew wearied,
And the mid-wife gave o'er.
2 O women, kind women,
I take you to be,
Just pierce my right side open
And save my baby.
3 O no, said the women,
That never could be;
I'll send for King Henry
In the time of your need.
4 King Henry was sent for
On horse-back and speed;
King Henry he reached her
In the hour of her need.
5 King Henry he come
And he bent o'er the bed:
What's the matter with my flower
Makes her eyes look so red ?
6 O Henry, kind Henry,
Pray listen to me,
And pierce my right side open
And save my baby.
7 O no, said King Henry,
That never could be,
I would lose my sweet flower
To save my baby.
8 Queen Jane she turned over
And fell in a swound,
And her side was pierced open
And the baby was found.
9 The baby were christened
All on the next day;
But it's mother's poor body
Lay cold as the clay.
10 So black was the mourning,
So yellow was the bed,
So costly was the white robe
Queen Jane was wrapped in.
11 Six men wore their robes,
Four carrying her along;
King Henry followed after
With his black mourning on.
12 King Henry he wept
Till his hands was wrung sore.
The flower of England
Will flourish no more.
13 And the baby were christened
All on the next day,
And it's mother's poor body
Lying mouldering away.