They Were Standing by the Window
The song with this opening line maintains a fair degree of identity
in the southern Appalachians: Tennessee (SSSA 147-8), North
Carolina (BMFSB 56-7), and Georgia (SSSA 1^9-50). Davis
(FSV 90) reports it as in the Virginia collection. Known also in
Missouri (OFS iv 283-4). Presumably a parlor song originally,
its authorship and the date and place of its origin have tiot been
discovered,
A
'The Broken Heart.' Contributed by I. G. Greer, Boone, Watauga
county.
1 They were standing by a window
As the night wind kissed her cheeks.
As he waited long in silence,
Waited long for her to speak.
2 And at last she murmured sadly
As she raised her tearful eyes
With a look so full of sadness
That it filled him with surprise :
3 'I have summoned you, my darling,
So that I may tell you all
Ere our vows by angels written
Are forever past recall.
4 'For they say you love another,
That you never have loved me.
If those cruel words are true, dear,
I forever set you free.'
5 Then she gazed with eager yearning.
Gazed upon that face so fair
Till was stamped upon her memory
Dark brown eyes and raven hair.
6 Then from her blue eyes faded
All the tender misty light,
And her small hands clenched in passion
While her face grew stern and white.
4l8 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
7 "Tis enough!' she cried in anguish,
'Stain no more your guilty soul;
May oblivion's silent water
Evermore between us roll.
8 'Long have I in faith unshaken
Trusted every word of thine ;
Even now, though I've been forsaken
And thy heart's no longer mine.
9 'Long you've held my soul in bondage,
Long I've been thy willing slave.
Even now, tho you forsake me,
I would die thy life to save.
10 'I'll return each little missive
You have written in the past.
But the burning words within them
E'er will haunt me to the last.
11 'Do not think that I'll forget you.
No, I'll live on just as now
Till the arms of earth enfold me
And the dew is on my brow.
12 'Fare you well,' she added gently,
As he seized her outstretched hand,
Covered it with burning kisses,
Whispering, 'God will understand.
13 'He will know that to deceive you
Ne'er has been a wish of mine,
And I shall obtain forgiveness ;
But I cannot hope for thine.
14 'Fare you well,' he added hoarsely,
'But by yonder s star above
To deceive I ne'er intended
When I told you of my love.'
15 'He is gone,' the white Hps quivered;
Lower bends the golden head.
And the little hands were folded
As the gentle spirit fled.
16 God in mercy sent an angel
To relieve her from all care.
For he knew the weight of sorrow
Was far more than she could bear.
OLDER BALLADS MOSTLY BRITISH 4I9
17 She was wafted home to heaven,
To that mansion of the blest
Where the sad heart knows no sorrow
And the weary are at rest.
'Broken Engagement.' Contributed by Miss Constance Patten of Duke
University in March 1936, as sent to her by Lillie Rhinehart. Somewhat
shorter than A and, though evidently deriving from the same original,
giving numerous evidences of change by oral transmission.
1 They were standing by the window
As the night wind kissed her cheek.
There he waited long in silence,
Waited long for her to speak.
2 'That's enough,' he added gently
As he seized her outstretched hand.
Covering it with burning kisses.
Whispering, 'God will understand.
3 'When we meet we meet as strangers;
On the street just pass me by.
Never think that I don't love you,
For to save your life I die.
4 'I must go,' he added gently.
'Grieve no more my guilted soul ;
Let the deepest and silent water
Evermore between us roll.*
5 'He has gone,' her pale lips quivered,
'Left me standing by the gate.
Tell him for me, sister darling,
That his message came too late.'
6 God in heaven sent an angel
To release her from all care,
For he knew the weight of sorrow
Was far more than she could bear.
7 He was standing by her casket
As he looked into her face.
There he realized that he loved her
And no one could take her place.
c
'They Were Standing by the Window.' Obtained from Edna Whitley,
but the manuscript is not dated. Compared with A and B it curiously
illustrates the way in which oral transmission changes a text. It is
given here verbatim from the manuscript.
420 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
1 They were standing by the window
As the night wind kissed her cheek ;
He had waited long in silence,
Waited long for her to speak.
2 As he turned with eager yearning,
Gazed upon her face so fair.
There he stamped upon his memory
Dark blue eyes and raven hair.
3 'I have summoned you, my darling.
Oh. that I could tell you all !
But by vows of angels unbroken
Are far-well past recall.'
4 'Oh, they say you love another
And that you never love me.
If these cruel words be true, dear,
I'll forever set you free.'
5 Tt is true,' he whispered softly,
Looking at the stars above,
'But to deceive you I never intended
When I told you all my love.'
6 "Tis enough,' she cried in anguish,
'Stain no more thy guilty soul.
May oblivious mercies waters
Ever more between us roll.'
7 'Farewell, darling,' he whispered softly
As he seized her outstretched hands,
Covering them with burning kisses,
Say, 'God will understand.
8 'He will know that to deceive you
Never was a wish of mine ;
Tho I shall obtain forgiveness
I can never hope for thine.'
9 'He is gone,' her white lips quivered;
Lower drooped her lovely head.
With her right hand raised in anguish
As her gentle spirit fled.
lo God in mercy sent an angel
To relieve her of her care.
For he knew her wants of sorrow
Was too great for her to bear.
OLDER BALLADS — MOSTLY BRITISH 42I
11 She was wafted to heaven
With the ransomed and the blest,
Where sad hearts know no sorrow
And the weary forever at rest.
12 He was standing by the cofifin ;
And as he gazeH upon her
Full then he realized that he loved her
And no one could take her place.
D
They Were Standing by the Window.' From the John Burch Blaylock
Collection Here a new element is introduced; the engagement is broken
because the man is a drunkard.
I They were standing by the window
On the night he kissed her cheeks ;
They were standing there in silence,
Waiting for her heart to speak.
2 'Though they say you love another
And you never cared for me,
If those cruel words be true, dear,
I'll forever set you free.
3 T can't be your sweetheart any longer.
And I'll tell you the reason why.
For my mother always told me
Just to pass a drunkard by.
4 'Here's the little ring you gave me;
From my finger it must part.
Take and give it to your lover ;
Leave me with a broken heart.
5 'When we meet again as strangers
On the streets, just pass me by.
Never think that I'll forsake you.
For to save your life I'd die.'
--
157
They Were Standing by the Window^
'The Broken Heart.' Sung by Dr. I. G. Greer. Recorded as MS score at Boone,
For melodic relationship cf. *OFS iv 283, No. 771 ; the first, third, and last
cadences are alike.
Scale: Heptachordal. Tonal Center: c. Structure: aa^bbi (2,2,2,2) = ab (4,4).