184
The Holly Twig
So It seems best to call this old song, though the phrase does not
occur in our North Carolina copies. In its shorter nursery rhyme
form (Halliwell 29-30) it is familiar. As 'The Holly Twig' it is
OLDER BALLADS MOSTLY BRITISH 455
known in Hampshire (JFSS iii 315-16, where the notes shovy that
it is also found in Baring-Gould's Songs of the West), and it has
been reported in this country from Virginia (SharpK 11 341-3,
FSV 161, OSC 134-5), North Carolina (FSRA 77-8), Georgia
(FSSH 154-5), Mississippi (JAFL xxix 155-6, FSM 174-5),
Missouri (OFS in 71-2), and Indiana (SFLQ v 183-4), and as
sung by Negroes (Talley 145-6).
'When I was a Bachelor.' Obtained from Miss Penelope Nichols of
Durham county in May 1920.
1 When I was a bachelor bold and young
I courted a gal wMth a flattering tongue ;
She said she would have me, but she didn't say when,
And the kisses I gave her were a hundred and ten.
2 So, Monday morning I married my wife,
Hoping for to spend a happy life
Fiddling and dancing and many fine ways
To see how merry we were made.
3 So, Tuesday morning I carried her home.
'Stead of a wife she was a scolding Joan.
She tuned up a prattle, and she scolded more
Than I think I ever heard in my life before.
4 So, Wednesday morning I went to the wood,
Hoping that she would prove good.
I cut me a hickory, 'twas of the willow green,
And I think it was the keenest that I ever have seen.
5 So, Thursday morning I whipped her well.
Whipped her more than tongue could tell ;
Told her if she didn't prove better to be
The devils might come and take her 'way from me.
6 So, Friday morning at break of day
Sleeping old Jonah on the pillow lay ;
The buggars and the ruggars and the little devils came
And carried her away in a shower of rain.
7 So, Saturday morning I was left all alone.
Neither a wife nor a scolding Joan.
My biggest bottle was my best friend,
And my week's work was at an end.
B
'Monday Morning I Got Me a Wife.' Contributed by Miss Eliza A.
Pool of Raleigh. Substantially the same as A except that it lacks the
456 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
first Stanza; but the minor variations of language are interesting as
showing how texts change in oral tradition. In this version the last
line of each stanza is repeated by way of a refrain.
1 Monday morning I got me a wife,
Hoping to spend a happy, happy life.
Music and dancing and all things were played.
To think how happy I was made!
2 Tuesday morning I brought her home,
Instead of a wife a scolding Joan.
She rattled up her clapper and scolded more
Than ever I had heard in my life before.
3 Wednesday morning I took her to the wood.
Hoping there she might prove good ;
I cut a switch from the willow, willow green,
I think it was as keen a one as ever I had seen.
4 Thursday morning I whipped her well,
I whipped her more than tongue can tell ;
I told her if she didn't better be
Old Harry would come and take her from me.
5 Friday morning at break of day,
As on her pillow she scolding lay.
Goblins and furies and little devils came
And took her ofT in a shower of rain.
6 Saturday morning I breakfasted alone
Without my wife or scolding Joan.
My very biggest bottle was my very best friend,
And so it must be to the end.
-----------------
184
The Holly Twig
'When I Was a Bachelor.' Sung by Miss Penelope Nichols. Recorded as ms
score at Durham, May 1920. Our text is a variation of the first stanza (second
choice) of 'The Holly Twig' in SharpK i 341, No. 53A. (^n II 455 for SharpK
ri read SharpK i.)
Scale : Tetratonic (4) plagal. Tonal Center : f. Structure : aa^aSa^a* (2,2,2,2,2)
= aai (4,6). The second phrase is terminally incremented.