O Hatty Bell- Mrs. Godfrey (NC) 1918 Sharp MS
[My title. Composite from Cecil Sharp MSS, Folk Words p.3183 / Folk Tunes p.4544.
This is a hybrid version, which was titled Broken Token (last three stanzas), similar to 1) "Hattie Belle" MS from Greer Collection before 1932; hybrid version which also has stanzas from "A Sweetheart in the Army/Broken Token" and 2) "Annie Girl" Hudson JAF, 1926.
R. Matteson 2016]
[O Hatty Bell]- Sung by Mrs. Godfrey of Marion, NC on September 3, 1918 from Sharp MS
O Hatty Bell go ask your mother
If you can be my darling bride
If she says, Yes, come back and tell me,
If she says, No, we'll run away.
My mamma says she's not willing,
My pap said I was too young,
But, oh kind Miss, if you are willing
You can go with me and we'll run away.
Kind Miss I have some gold and silver
Kind Miss I have a house and land
Kind Miss I have ship on the ocean;
It all shall lay at your command[1].
O what cares I for your gold and silver
What cares I for your house and land
What cares I for your ship on the ocean?
All I want is a handsome man.
I have a true love on yonders ocean,
Seven long years he's been gone,
And if he's gone seven years longer,
No man on earth can marry me.
He ran his hands all in his pocket,
His fingers being slim and small,
And he drew out a diamond gold ring,
And at his feet his love did fall.
He picked her up all in his arms,
And gave her kiss of one, two, three,
And says: Kind Miss, I'm just from the ocean
I have come back to marry thee.
1. similar to promises made in House Carpenter but from the song, Madamy as is the next stanza.