Fond Affection
A favorite among songs of disappointed love. Its origin has not
been discovered. It is sung in Scotland (Ord 181-2) and is known
in this country in Virginia (a record of it from that state is listed
by the Archive of American Folk Song), Kentucky (ASb 232,
FSKH 12-3), Tennessee (JAFL xlv 70-1, FSSH 250-1), North
Carolina (SharpK 11 109, BMFSB 52-3), Arkansas (OFS iv
251, 252-3, 255), Missouri (BSM 209, OFS iv 250, 251-2, 254),
and Illinois (TSSI 234-7, a somewhat remote representative of the
song) ; it seems not to have been found in New England. The
* The B text is similarly unintelligible here. The Missouri texts show
what is intended : "Brothers, sisters, have I neither" ; "Brothers I have
none nor sisters."
OLDER BALLADS MOSTLY BRITISH 399
thirteen texts in our collection strikingly illustrate the way of the
folk with a song. Though all of them are forms of this song, no
two of them are just alike; elements are taken up, dropped, moved
about, modified. One assumes that it circulated at some time in
print, but the present texts have all the appearance of having moved
through various minds and mouths.
'Fond Affection.' Obtained by J. T. Carpenter in 1920 or thereabouts
from the manuscript songbook of Mrs. Mary Martin Copley, Route 8,
Durham.
1 Once I loved with fond aflFection
And I thought that he loved me.
But another girl persuaded
And he cares no more for me.
Chorus:
Go and leave me if you wish to,
Never let me cross your mind ;
If you think I'm so unworthy,
Go and leave me, never mind.
2 Many a time while you lie sleeping,
Dreaming at your sweet repose,
I, poor girl, lie broken-hearted.
Listening to the wind that blows.
3 Many a time with you I've wandered,
Many an hour with you I've spent
When I thought you was mine forever ;
But I've found your heart is bent,
4 Now you are happy with another,
One who has more gold than I ;
You have proved to me false-hearted
Just because I am so poor.
5 Farewell, friends and fond relations.
Fare thee well, my false young man.
You have caused me all this sorrow ;
Fare thee well, and never mind.
'Once I Loved with Fond Affection.' Obtained from Mrs. W. L,
Pridgen of Durham in 1923. What is marked as the chorus in A be-
comes merely the fifth stanza here ; other stanzas corresponding to those
in A are differently placed ; several stanzas are not represented in A
at all.
I Once I loved with fond affection
And I thought that you loved me ;
400 NORTH CAROLIN/ FOLKLORE
But I found that you'd deceived me
And you cared no more for me.
2 You have left me for another,
One who has more gold than I ;
But my heart has loved none other
Fondly as it once loved you.
3 They have told you false stories,
You believed them, all they say.
You are false, but I'll forgive you —
But forget I never may.
4 You have tried your powers to lead me
From the paths of duty true ;
But thank God your powers are ended,
I shall care no more for you.
5 Go and leave me if you wish to.
Never let me cross your mind.
If you think me so unworthy.
Go and leave me ; never mind.
6 I have written you a letter
To tell you that you are free;
From this hour and forever
I shall care no more for thee.
7 One more word and all is over.
Why were you unkind to me?
Tell me why you do not love me?
Turned aside — how can it be?
c
'Fond Affection.' Contributed by Louise Bennett of Middleburg, Vance
county. Has a good deal in common with A, but is by no means identical
with that text.
1 Thou hast learned to love another,
Thou hast broken every vow.
We have parted from each other.
And my heart is breaking now.
2 Once I loved with fond affection ;
You were all the world to me
Till some dark-eyed girl persuaded,
Then you thought no more of me.
3 Many a night while you lie sleeping.
Dreaming in your sweet repose,
I, poor girl, lie broken-hearted
Listening to the wind that blows.
OLDER BALLADS MOSTLY BRITISH 4OI
4 I am writing you this letter
Telling you that you are free ;
From this moment and forever
You are nothing more to me.
5 May your life be long and happy,
May your troubles be but few,
May you find a rest in heaven
When your earthly task is through.
D
'If It's in Your Heart' or 'I Once Did Love Your Fond Affection.'
From the manscripts of G. S. Robinson of Asheville, copy taken August
4, 1939. Four stanzas and chorus. All of the stanzas, including the
chorus, are in the preceding texts, but they are altered. In the last line
of stanza 2 "them" should presumably be "lent" (though it is "bent"
in A). The peculiar misuse of language in the opening line appears
also, with slight variation, in texts E and F.
1 I once did love your fond affection,
All my hopes on thee I placed,
Until that dark -eyed girl persuaded ;
Then you cared for me no more.
Chorus:
Just go and leave me if you want to.
Through this lonely world I'll flee.
If it's in your heart to love another
In my grave I'd rather be.
2 A many a night with you I've rambled,
A many a night with you I've spent.
I thought I'd won your heart forever,
Now I see it was only them.
3 A many a night while you lay sleeping,
Dreaming of some sweet repose,
And me, a poor girl, lay broken-hearted
Listening to the wind that blows.
4 Just go and leave me if you want to.
Through this lonely world I'll flee.
If it's in your heart to love another
In my grave I'd rather be.
E
'Fond Affection.' Communicated by Austin E. Elliott of Randolph
county in 1919. Most of the matter in this text has appeared in the
preceding versions but with slight variation in the order and the phrasing.
The last line of stanza 4 seems to have been borrowed from 'We Have
Met and We Have Parted,' for which see pp. 409-14.
402 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
1 Once I loved a fond affection,
And he thought this world of me,
Till some dark-eyed girl persuaded;
Then he thought no more of me.
Chorus:
Go and leave me if you wish to.
Never let me cross your mind.
If you think I'm so unworthy
Go and leave me, never mind.
2 Darling, when you lay in slumber,
Dreaming in your sweet repose,
I'm a poor girl broken-hearted
Listening to the wind that blows.
3 I have loved you, dearly loved you
More than all this world can know.
You have broken the heart that loved you
And I say, forever go.
4 Go now, but to flirt with another,
Try and gain her for your bride.
In your heart her love she has written ;
Love will never conquer pride.
5 I have written you a letter
Telling you that you are free;
From this moment now forever
You are nothing more to me.
6 Future days may bring on sorrow.
Though your troubles now are few.
If you live until tomorrow
Would you die for sake of me?
7 Sweet the hour when first I met you,
Sad the hour my lips shall say
'By and by you will forget me,
By and by and so far away.'
8 Tell me one thing, tell me truly :
Do you love none else but me?
I will love you if you let me,
I don't believe one word you say.
'Fond of Affection.' Secured, probably about 1923, from Miss Jewell
Robbins of Pekin, Montgomery county (afterwards Mrs. C. P. Perdue).
Sung to the tune of 'The Gypsy's Warning.' The last stanza and a
half of this version have not appeared in the preceding texts.
OLDER BALLADS MOSTLY BRITISH 403
1 Once I loved a fond affection
And he thought the world of me,
Till some dark-eyed girl persuaded;
Then he thought no more of me.
2 When the golden sun is setting
And from cares your mind is free,
When of others you are thinking,
Will you sometimes think of me?
3 Go and [leave] me if you wish to,
Never let me cross your mind.
If you think I am unworthy
Go and leave me, never mind,
4 Many a night when you lay sleeping,
Dreaming in your sweet repose,
I, poor girl, all broken-hearted
Lie and listen to the wind that blows.
5 When I was down on low-oak river
Sitting under a weeping-willow tree
I could hardly keep from fainting
When you turned your back on me.
6 Hard to love and can't be loved,
Hard to please, to please man's mind.
G
'Raven Dark Hair.' Obtained by W. Amos Abrams from Margaret
Bariowe in October 1937. She had "borrowed this, along with many
others, from some friends." The title — a phrase which does not appear
anywhere in the text — shows that it was somehow associated in the
contributor's mind with 'The Pale Wildwood Flower' (no. 258 in vol.
III). The last stanza — which is a reply to the preceding four — belongs
to 'Little Sparrow' (no. 249 in vol. III). In the manuscript "girl"
is written in in parentheses after "boy" in stanzas i, 4, and 5 to show
that the song may be applied to either sex.
1 I once did love with fond affection ;
All my care was then of thee.
Until some dark-eyed boy persuaded ;
And now you care no more for me.
2 Just go and leave me if you wish to.
From this old town I will flee.
If in your heart you love some other
In my grave I would rather be.
3 A many a time with you I've rambled.
My happiest hours with you I've spent.
404 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
I thought your heart was mine forever,
But found it to be only lent.
4 A many a night while you lay sleeping,
Dreaming in your sweet repose,
Me, a poor boy, lay broken-hearted
Listen to the wind that blows.
5 My darling boy, since first I saw you
It's been many a dark and gloomy day.
Many a bright sunshiny morning
Has turned to a cold and rainy day.
H
'Fond Devotion.' Reported by Miss Pearl Webb of Pineola, Avery
county, in 1921, with the tune. Only stanza i and the chorus have
appeared in the preceding versions, but the rest is kindred matter.
1 Once I had a fond devotion.
More than all the world to me,
Till some fairy won him from me ;
Now no more he thinks of me.
Chorus:
Now go and leave me if you wish to,
Never let me cross your mind.
For in your heart you love another.
Go and leave me. I don't mind.
2 Pretty flowers were made for blooming,
Pretty stars were made for shining.
Pretty boys were made for girl-love.
But you were not made for mine.
3 Every night in this creation
Bowing on my bended knee
I pray to God, oh, tell and ask him
If my sweetheart e'er thinks of me.
4 Just three more things I only wish for,
That's my coffin, shroud, and grave.
When I'm dead and in my coffin
Think of the heart that you've betrayed.
5 God may teach me to forgive you
For the wrong that you have done ;
But forget you I can never.
My whole heart and soul you've won.
ALL ADS — MOSTLY BRITISH 405
'Future Days.' Communicated by Mamie Mansfield of Durham in July
1922. Further from the ordinary text than the others, but clearly a
form of the same song.
1 Future days may bring on sorrow.
Oh. my troubles they are great.
If we never seek tomorrow,
Only think it for your sake.
Chorus:
Go and leave me if you wish to,
Never let me cross your mind.
If you think I'm too unworthy
Go your way, and never mind.
2 God may teach me to forgive you
For the way that you have done.
But forget you I can never,
For my whole heart you have won.
3 Here is your ring; I pray you, take it,
Give it to the one you love ;
For you have placed it on my finger
In the presence of our love.
4 Once I thought you really loved me
And I thought that you would be true ;
But the dark-haired girl persuaded
And now you no longer care for me.
5 Many times with you I've rambled,
Many days with you I've been,
Thought your heart was mine forever ;
But I found it was not true.
6 Oh, it's time that we are parting.
For the night is growing late.
Now you have proved to be false-hearted :
Now I'll go and meet my fate.
7 Here is my hand. Oh, clasp it gently
As you have in days of yore ;
For we are parting now forever,
Parting now forevermore.
8 Down among the reeds and bushes
Where the tall green willows wave.
When I am dead and in my cofifin
There you will find my lonely grave.
406 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
J
'Old Love Song.' Contributed by Mrs. Sutton in 1928 as sung by Mrs.
Becky Gordon of Saluda Mountain, Henderson county. Made up of
quatrains found in the other versions.
1 Many a mile with you I've rambled,
Many an hour with you I've spent.
Thought your love was mine forever.
But I find it's all in vain.
Chorus:
Go and leave me if you wish to,
Never let me cross your mind.
If you think me so unworthy
Go and leave me ; I don't mind.
2 Many a night when you lay sleeping,
Dreaming of your fond report,
Me, poor girl, all broken-hearted
Listening to the cold wind roar.
3 Pretty flowers was made to bloometh.
Pretty stars was made to shine,
Pretty girls was made for man's love
And perhaps you was made for mine.
K
'Little Darling Pal of Mine.' Obtained by L. W. Anderson from Max-
ine Tillett, Nag's Head. The "darling pal" and the "casket, shroud,
and grave" have somehow been brought into our song from outside.
1 Many a night while you lay sleeping,
Dreaming of your rambling mind,
While your poor wife lies broken-hearted.
Listening to the wind that sighs.
Chorus:
My little darling, you know I love you,
Love you more than tongue can tell.
In your heart you love another.
Little darling pal of mine.
2 Many a day with you I've rambled,
Happiest hours with you I've spent.
I thought I had your heart forever
But I find it only lent.
3 There is just three things I wish for.
That's my casket, shroud, and grave.
When I'm dead don't weep o'er me ;
Just kiss these lips that you've betrayed.
OLDER BALLADS — MOSTLY BRITISH 4O7
L
Separation.' A two-stanza fragment reported by Clara Hearne of Chat-
ham county; here put into the mouth of the man.
1 Oft at night when you were sleeping,
Dreaming in your sweet repose,
I, poor boy, am broken-hearted.
Listening to the wind that blows.
2 Go and leave me if you wish to,
Never let ine cross your mind.
If you think that I'm unworthy.
Go and leave me ; never mind.
'Darling, Do You Know Who Loves You?' Obtained in Davidson county
by S. M. Holton, Jr., of Durham. Date not noted. Previously reported
(with considerable differences in the text) only from North Carolina,
BMFSB 52-3. Stanzas 5-7 have suffered somewhat in transmission, as
will be seen by comparing them with the relevant stanzas in preceding
texts.
1 Darling, do you know who loves you,
Do you know whose heart you've won ?
I'm so lonely here without you,
Though the parting time has come.
2 You may go and flirt with another,
Try to win her for your bride.
This poor aching heart must smother ;
Love can always conquer pride.
3 You may meet with many bright faces ;
They may tell you I'm not true.
Don't believe them, no, don't believe them ;
No one loves you as I do.
4 You may meet with many bright changes
Glittering down the river stream.
Remember, oh, remember
You are always in my dreams.
5 Many nights with you I rambled.
Many hours with you I spent.
Though your heart was mine forever
I found it only at length.
6 Many nights while you lie asleep.
Dreaming of whom you love,
So I lie here all heart-broken.
Listening to the wind that blows.
4o8 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
7 God teaches me to forgive you
For the way that you have done.
Forget you I can never ;
Your cold heart I have won.
---------
153
Fond Affection
'Once I Loved with Fond Affection.' Sung by Mrs. W. L. Pridgen. Recorded;
no date or place given. In II 398 for ASb 232 read ASb 323.)
Scale: Heptachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: c. Structure: abab^ (2,2,2,2) =
aai (4,4).
'Fond Affection.' Sung by Austin E. Elliott. Recorded as ms score in Randolph
county in 191 9. 332
Scale : Irrational. Tonal Center : e. Structure : abacabac (2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2) =
aa^aai (4,4,4.4)-
'Fond of Affection.' Sung by Miss Jewell Robbins. Recorded at Pekin, Mont-
gomery county, about 1923. Melodically, there is some slight resemblance to
1 53 A. This text is sung to the tune of 'The Gypsy's Warning.'
Scale: Mode III, plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: aba^b^ (2,2,2,2) = aa^
(4,4).
H
'Fond Devotion.' Sung by Miss Pearle Webb. Recorded as ms score at
Pineola, Avery county, in 1921.
Scale: Hexatonic (4), plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: abababab (2,2,2,2,
2,2,2,2) := aaaa (4,4,4,4).
N
'Go and Leave Me If You Wish To.' Sung by Bascom Lamar Lunsford. Re-
corded at Turkey Creek, Buncombe county; no date given. The chorus of this
version is the second stanza in the following versions: FSSH 250-1, No. 74;
OPS IV 253, No. 7S5G; BMFSB 52.
Scale: Mode III, plagal. Tonal Center: b-flat. Structure: aa^aa^ (4,4,4,4)
aa (8,8).