OLDER BALLADS MOSTLY BRITISH
23. Sweet William's Ghost (Child 77)
This admirable ballad of the returning dead has rarely appeared in modern collections. Greig did not include it in his Last Leaves, nor is it reported anywhere in the Journal of the Folk-Song Society. Mrs. Flanders (VFSB 240-1) prints it as found in The Green Mountain Songster of 1823. Both Miss Karpeles and Mrs. Greenleaf found it sung in Newfoundland (FSN 2-6, BSSN 21-2; the latter has lost the motive of the return of the troth-plight). Davis (FSV 17) reports two texts found in 1936 in Nansemond county, Virginia. These are the only traces of it in recent tradition; and all are from this side of the ocean. Unfortunately the text found among Dr. Brown's manuscripts is without name of contributor or place or date. But there is, I think, no reason to doubt its authenticity. As will be seen, it is closest to the A version of Child, though it is by no means identical with that version. No tune seems to have been recorded with it.
A. 'Sweet Willy.' Although unsigned, there is reason to believe it is one of the contributions made by Mrs. Sutton. [c. 1920s]
1 The dead man came to his true love's door
And jingled at the ring.
Loud he sobbed and loud he groaned,
But she would not let him in.
2 'Is that my father dear?' she said,
'Or is it my brother John?
Or is it my true love, Sweet Willy,
From the salt sea come back home?'
3 'Oh, Lilly Margrit, let me in,
Pray let me in to thee
And give me back your love and truth;
For I gave all mine to thee.'
4 'You'll get no favors from me, Sweet Willy,
Not nothing will I lend,
Till you come in at my bower door
And kiss me cheek and chin.'
5 'When I come in thy door, Lilly Margrit,
And I'll come in if I can.
When I kiss again thy rosy lips,
I am no earthly man.
6 'My bones lie rotting in the sand
Beyond this deep blue sea,
And this is just my spirit, love,
That's talking now to thee.
7 'But I cannot rest in my lowly grave
For thinking of my love.
Pray give me back my faith and truth
So I can go above!'
8 She stretched out her lily-white hand,
She wished for to do her best.
'Here is your love, you poor dead man,
And God send you home to rest! *
9 'Is there any room at your head, Willy?
Or any room at your feet?
Or is there any room at your side
Where I can get in and sleep?'
10 'There's no room at my head, my love,
There's no room at my feet.
But there's room for you in my two arms
Where you can get in and sleep.'
11 Just then the rooster crowed three times;
And loud did the lady cry,
'My hour has come to meet my love ;
I'm ready for to die.'
* Part of the story seems to be missing between stanzas 8 and 9, but there is no indication of a lacuna in the manuscript.
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23. Sweet William's Ghost (Child 77) [music]
A. 'Sweet Willy.' ms score only; no name, no place, no date. The melody perfectly fits the text printed in II 93-
Scale: Mode II, plagal. Tonal Center: c. Structure: aba1b (2,2,2,2) = aa1 (4,4).