Broken Ties
This title is chosen from the three offered by the different ver-
sions to avoid confusion with other songs on the same theme. It
is known in Kentucky (BKH 140), Tennessee (ETWVMB 103,
SSSA 167, FSSH 235-6), Missouri (OFS iv 333-4), Indiana
(SFLQ IV 181-2), and Illinois (TSSI 229-30), and is perhaps the
same as an item reported in the Archive of American Folk Song
as recorded in Mississippi. If it was originally a parlor song,
it has suffered somewhat in oral transmission.
'The Broken Engagement.' Reported by I. G. Greer of Boone, Watauga
county. Date not given, but it should probably be about 1915.
1 'Twould have been better for us both hcJ we never
In this wide, wicked world 'a' met ;
Tho' the pleasures we've both seen together
I can never, no, never forget.
Chorus:
When the cold, cold clay is laid upon me,
Won't you come, love, and shed just a tear?
And say to the strangers around you
That a heart you have broken lies here.
2 'Twould have been better for us both had we been
strangers.
But oh ! why should I speak of it now ?
For it was long, long ago
That I saw danger of sad, broken heart.
3 You always told me that you loved me.
That no other could ever come between ;
But it was long, long ago since you told me.
And the words in my memory are still green.
4 Farewell! For in vain I have departed.
And I shall struggle through this sad and lonely world,
Although you have left me broken-hearted.
And your last words shall be mingled with tears.
'Broken Ties.' Communicated by Miss Kate R. Russell of Roxboro,
Person county, probably in 1923.
I It would have been better if we never
In this wide wicked world, never to have met;
For the pleasures we've had together
I'm sure I shall never forget.
4l6 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
2 Oh, how sadly my heart is turned towards thee!
Tho the distance has kept us apart.
Do you love me as dear as when you told me
Long ago, folded close to your heart?
3 It has been long ago since you told me,
Tho the words in my memory lies deep ;
You told me that you would always love me,
Said that nothing could come in between.
4 It would have been better if we'd been strangers.
But why do I speak of it now ?
Have I not long ago felt the danger
Of a heart broken through a false vow?
5 Fare thee well ! For all hoj^es have departed,
I shall struggle through life until death.
And since you've left me broken-hearted,
Thy name shall employ my heart's depths.
6 And when death's cold grave surrounds me
Won't you come, love, and shed just one tear?
To tell to the strangers around me
That a heart you have broken lies here.
c
'Blue Eyes.' From Mrs. Minnie Church of Heaton, Avery county, in
1930. The "chorus" is not found in the other versions, and seems alien ;
but the rest of the text belongs clearly to the same song as A and B.
1 It would have been better for us both to have never
In this wide wicked world never met ;
For the good times we've both spent together.
Love, I'm sure I can never forget.
Chorus:
I am thinking today of my blue eyes
Who are sailing forever^ the sea,
I am thinking today of my blue eyes.
And I wonder if he ever thinks of me.
2 Oh, you told me once, dear, that you loved me,
And you said that we never would part.
But the links and the chains they have broken ;
Leave me, love, with a sad broken heart.
3 When the cold, cold grave shall enclose [me]
Will you come, love, and shed just one tear?
It will show to the strangers around me
A poor heart you have broken lies there.
^ Probably miswritten for "far over."
D
'The Broken Engagement.' Secured from Miss Lura Wagoner of Vox
in 1936; one of the entries in her manuscript songbook, made probably
about 1912. The text does not differ significantly from A.
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156
Broken Ties
B
'Broken Ties.' Sung by Katie S. Russell. Recorded at Roxboro, Person
county, probably in 1923. The idiom of this song is very much like that of the
well-known cowboy songs. The chromatic changes also point to some influence
foreign to the traditional folk idiom. The text of this stanza is almost the same
as that of the chorus given in FSSH 235-6.
Scale: Heptachordal, plagal. Tonal center: e-flat. Structure: aba^b^ (2,2,2,2)
= aai (4,4).