250
Florella (The Jealous Lover)
The sentimental cruelty and the brooding melancholy of 'Florella'
('The Jealous Lover') are perhaps the qualities which have made it
one of the most popular ballads in America. Belden, in BSM
324-5, has described its traits as follows:
Similar in theme to The Oxford Girl and Oma Wise, this is none the
less a distinct piece. In those, the man kills the girl to get rid of her ;
in this, the motive (avowed in most texts, and perhaps to be inferred
in the others) is jealousy. The girl is stabbed, not drowned. Persistent
features of Florella are the rhymes bloom and tomb, dew and flezv (or
drew), heart and part, her asking to be taken home, his plunging the
fatal knife into her snow-white bosom, and her forgiving him as she dies.
Common, too, is the openini? 'down by the weeping willows.' The names
NATIVE AMERICAN BALLADS 579
vary widely : Ellen, Ella, Florella, Florilla, Floretta, Flora Ella, Flo Ella,
Lorella, Lorilla, Louella, Lena, Emma, Emily, Alice, and (in Missouri)
Nellie, Lillie, Willie, Nina, Lemo, Abbie, Abbie Summers; Edward,
Edwin, Edmund, William, Willie, Henry, and (in Missouri) Elmer. See
Kittredge JAFL xxx 344 and Barry AS in 441-7. Just what relation
our song bears to T. H. Bayly's "She never blamed him," which was
sufficiently in vogue in Civil War times to be copied into a manuscript
ballad-book in Arkansas, is not clear. In Bayly's song the girl is not
murdered, apparently, but pines away ; but the cruder imagination of
ballad singers may not so have understood it. At any rate, one of
Bayly's stanzas.
She sighed when he caressed her
For she knew that they must part ;
She spoke not when he pressed her
To his young and panting heart,
appears, variously modified, in most of the Missouri texts, and another,
The banners waved around her
And she heard the bugle sound.
They passed and strangers found her
Cold and lifeless on the ground,
appears (sometimes with "bound" for "found") in Pennsylvania (NPM
58), West Virginia (FSS 199, 200, FSMEU 203-4), Nebraska (ABS
loi), in Mrs. Richardson's collection (AMS 31), and in Missouri D.
In our texts, of which there are twenty-three, the most common
opening is "Down (Way down) in the low (lone, lonesome, low
green, love) valley." The names of the victim are Florella, Florilla.
Floella, Ella, Ellen, Annie, Anna, Emily, Lula, Lorena, and Pearl
Bryant ; of the murderer, Edward, Edgar, Willie, and Jackson Wal-
ton. The names Pearl Bryant and Jackson Walton belong to a
single text (U), for reasons that are explained in the headnote
to that text. The first of the two quoted stanzas from Bayly's song
appears, "variously modified," in the B, E, K, and M North Caro-
lina texts: the second, in A, E, H, N and R (badly garbled), and U.
"Florella," continues Belden, "seems to be known only on this
side of the Atlantic, and only by word of mouth — at least I have
found no ballad or songbook print of it." He cites reports from
traditional knowledge of it in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario,
New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, West Vir-
ginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi,
Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wyo-
ming. To Belden's citations add: Eddy, BSO 236-41 (Ohio);
Brewster, BSI 248-52 (Indiana): Gardner and Chickering, BSSM
83-5 (Michigan), Randolph, OFS 11 44; Davis, FSV 267-9
(listed) ; and Morris, FSF 76-80 (Florida).
A
'The Jealous Lover.' With music. From the Rev. L. D. Hayman, a
former student of Trinity College (A.B., 1913), with the note: "Gath-
ered from the Currituck and Dare county sections. Sung many years
ago . . . has a tune familiar to the present day." The text is in a type-
script of songs assembled by Dr. Brown in 1916-18 for printing.
580 NORTH CAROLINA FOLK I. OR F.
1 Down in the low green valley.
Where violets bloom and fade,
'Tis there sweet Florella
Lies moldering in the grave.
2 She died not broken-hearted.
Nor of disease she fled.
But in a moment parted
With those she loved so well.
3 One night the moon was shining.
The stars were shining too,
When softly to her cottage
Her jealous lover drew.
4 He said, 'Come, Love, let's wander
Out in the wood so cool ;
While wandering we will i)ondcr
Upon our wedding-day.'
5 The way grew dark and dreary.
'I cannot stay,' she said.
'For rambling I am weary ;
I must retrace my way.'
6 'Retrace your way ? No ! never ;
No more in this world to roam ;
So bid farewell to loved ones.
To parents, friends, and home.'
7 'Farewell ; the loving parents
No more on earth I'll see,
For long will be my coming
Back to the cottage door.'
8 Then on her knees before hnn.
She pleaded for her life ;
But deep into her bosom
He plunged the fatal knife.
9 'Dear WiUie, I'll forgive you,'
Was the last in her dying groan ;
'I never have deceived you,'
Then closed her eyes in death,
10 The banner floated o'er her
That filled the bugle-song.
And strangers came and found her,
Cold, lifeless on the ground.
NATIVE AMERICAN BALLADS 581
'Jealous Lover.' Without name or address of the contributor, but among
the typescripts of the songs assembled by Dr. Brown in 1916-18 for
publication.
1 Way down in the lone lone valley,
Where the violets early bloom,
There lies a gentle Anna
In a cold and silent tomb.
2 She died not broken-hearted,
Neither in sickness she fell,
But in one moment parted
From the one she loved so well.
3 One night when the moon shone brightly
And early fell the dew
Up to the little cottage
Her jealous lover drew.
4 'Come, Anna, let's go roaming
O'er the meadows wide and gay ;
Come, love, and let us ponder
O'er our happy wedding day.'
5 'Oh, Edward, I'm so tired
And I do not care to roam,
For roaming is so dreary.
Dearest Edward, stay at home.'
6 Up stepped her jealous lover ;
One solemn vow he made :
'No mortal man can save you;
In one moment you'll be slain.'
7 Down on her knees before him.
She begged him for her life.
But in her snow-white bosom
He plunged the fatal knife.
8 'Oh, Edward, I'll forgive you,
Tho it be my very last breath ;
I never loved no other.'
Then she closed her eyes in death.
9 He sighed not as he pressed her
To his young and jealous heart ;
He sighed not as he kissed her,
Tho he knew they soon must part.
582 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
C
'The Jealous Lover.' From an unidentified newspaper clipping marked
"I.G.G. (Greer)" in Dr. Brown's hand. With music by I. G. Greer.
Stanzas i, 2, and 9 are the same, with slight verbal variations, as in
B. The rest follow :
3 One evening as the moon shone brightly
And soft, o'er hill and dale,
Unto this maiden's cottage
Her jealous lover came.
4 'Flotilla, let us wander
Down by yon meadows gay ;
There will we sit and ponder
Upon our wedding-day.'
5 The way was cold and dreary.
And the night was coming on ;
Into this lonely valley
He led this maiden on.
6 'Oh, Edward, I am tired
Of wandering here along ;
The night is cold and dreary ;
I pray you take me home.'
7 'You have not the wings of an eagle.
Nor from me can you fly ;
No earthly soul can hear you ;
You instantly must die.'
8 Down on her knees she bended
And begged him for her life,
But into that snowy bosom
He plunged a gleaming knife.
10 'Here's adieu to my fond parents.
And to my friends adieu ;
And you, my dearest Edward,
May all your words prove true.'
11 Down on his knees he bended,
Saying, 'Oh, what have I done?
I've murdered my Florilla,
True as the rising sun.'
12 Now in that lonely valley.
Where the willows weep o'er her grave,
Florilla lies forgotten
Where the merry sunbeams play.
NATIVE AMERICAN BALLADS 583
'Florilla.' From Miss Jane Christenbury, who graduated from Trinity
College in 1923; with words and music. Repeats with minor verbal
variations the first four stanzas of B, then stanzas 5-1 1 of C.
'The Jealous Lover.' From L. W. Anderson, Nag's Head, as collected
from Maxine Tillett, Nag's Head, undated. Stanzas 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9
of B (with verbal variations), ending:
7 The willows waved above her
And caused a mournful sound.
A stranger came and found her
Cold, lifeless on the ground.
8 He took her to her parents,
As you will always see.
And now Lorena is sleeping
Beneath the willow tree.
'Blue-Eyed Ella.' From Miss Bonnie Ethel Dickson, of Helton, Ashe
county; MS undated. (Miss Dickson took degrees from Duke Univer-
sity in 1931 and 1938.) With minor verbal variations, same as B, but
lacks the last stanza of that version and contains two additional stanzas :
5 Then deep into the forest
He led his lover dear,
Saying, Tt's for you only
That I am wandering here.'
9 'Now, Ella, you must forgive me,
Your parents forgive me, too.
There's nothing for my country
That's left for me to do.'
G
'The Jealous Lover.' From Miss Dickson, as above ; undated. Close to
C, with verbal variations from that text and from those stanzas which
it shares with F.
H
'Blue-Eyed Ella.' From Miss Lura Wagoner, Vox, Alleghany county,
in a manuscript book of songs loaned to Dr. Brown in 1936. Several
of the songs are dated, some 1911, some 1913. (Many were copied by
Dr. Brown without name, date, or place.) This is the longest text of
the song in our collection, having stanzas corresponding to all those in
the preceding versions except B 9, C 11 and 12, and E 12, plus an addi-
tional stanza (13) relating the punishment of the murderer.
I Down in some lonesome valley,
Where the violets bloom and fade.
There is where our blue-eyed Ella
Lies mouldering in the grave.
584 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
2 She died not broken-hearted,
Nor sickness caused her death,
But it was a jealous lover
With a dagger pierced her breast.
3 One night the moon was shining.
And the stars were shining too,
When quick into the cottage
Her jealous lover drew.
4 'Come, Ella, let's go rambling
Into the meadows gay
And together we will ponder
And appoint our wedding day.'
5 Into the lonely forest
He led his lover dear.
And she says, 'It is for you only
That I am wondering here.'
6 Their way grew dark and dreary.
Tm afraid,' she said, 'to say,
And of wondering I am weary;
I would retrace my way.'
7 'Retrace your way! No, never,
While in this wide world you roam ;
So bid farewell to parents
And to my friends, and home.'
8 'Farewell, dear loving parents;
I may never see you any more.
And long may be my coming
To the little cottage door.'
9 Then on her knees before him
She pleaded for her life ;
But deep into her bosom
He plunged the dagger knife.
10 'Now, Ella, you must forgive me,
Your parents forgive me too.
And I'll flee to a foreign country,
And never hear of you.'
11 'Yes, Edgar, I'll forgive you,'
Was her last and dying breath ;
'I never have deceived you,'
And she closed her eyes in death.
NATIVE AMERICAN BALLADS 585
12 A banner waved above her,
Which caused a bugle sound,
And friends and strangers found her,
Cold, lifeless on the ground.
13 Then Edgar was convicted
And to the gallows hung.
For the murder of Blue- Eyed Ella
And the crime that he had done.
I
'The Jealous Lover.' From Julian P. Boyd, Alliance, Pamlico county,
as collected from a student, Mary Price, 1927-28. Same as B, except
for slight changes in wording and lack of equivalent of B 9.
J
'The Jealous Lover.' From W. Amos Abrams, Boone, as collected from
Melba Lovill, Boone, in 1938. Has the "weeping willows" opening.
The woman is named Florilla ; the man, Edward. Stanzas 2-5 cor-
respond rather closely to A 2-5; 6-8 to C 6-8; 9 to B 9; 10-12 to C 10-12
(with "advice" for "adieu" in 10).
K
'The Lone, Lone Valley.' From W. Amos Abrams. Boone; undated.
Nine stanzas, very close to B ("true" for "drew" in stanza 3; "wild"
for "wide" in stanza 4; "silent" for "solemn" in 6). Names, Anna and
Edward.
'Down in a Lone Valley.' Two copies: (i) Designated as from Thomas
Smith, Zionville, Watauga county, c. 1915, without music; (2) marked
"Mrs. Byers" (without address or date, though her early address is
known to have been Silverstone) — evidently a copy of the same text
made from Mrs. Byers' singing, for this has a note, "With Music." The
two copies are exactly alike except in the representation of stanza i,
11. 1-2: (i) "Way down in a lone lone / Valley . . . "; (2) "Way down
in a lone valley / Where. . . ." The two copies have the same footnote,
the footnote in the first being in the handwriting of Thomas Smith :
"The above song is not very well liked by some persons who say it is
real silly. The tune is heartrending. Some young ladies used to sing
it and play the tune on an organ. This was in 1903 I think." Seven
stanzas, close to B 1-7 (with "Annie" for "Anna" in stanza i ; "love"
for "Anna" in 5; "steps" for "stepped" in 6).
M
'The Love Valley.' From Miss Edith Walker's manuscript book of
songs, sent from Boone in 1941. Nine stanzas, close to B ("Way down
in the Love, Love Valley," in stanza i, 1. i; "Annie" for "Anna" in i;
"love" for "Anna" in 4; "silent" for "solemn" in 6.
N
'Floella's Death.' From Effie Tucker ; without address and date. Eleven
stanzas: 1-6 close to A 1-6 (with "Deep, deep in yonders valley,"
"Floella," and preservation of the bloom: tomb rhyme) ; 7 (copied be-
low) ; 8 as in A 8; 9 (copied below) ; 10 as in A 7; 11 (copied below).
586 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
7 'While ill these woods I have you,
From me you cannot fly ;
No human arms can save you ;
Floella, you must die.'
9 'What have I done, dear Edw^ard,
That you have taken my hfe ?
I've always been so faithful,
And would have been your wife.'
1 1 The birds sing in the morning.
But funeral there was sound.
They found Floella sleeping,
Her bed, the cold, cold ground.
'The Jealous Lover.' From Mrs. Minnie Church, Heaton, Avery county,
1930. Seven stanzas: 1-2 corresponding to B 1-2 ("Away down in the
lone lone valley") ; Z-7, to B 4, 5, 3, 7, and 8.
P
'Down in a Lone Valley.' From Mrs. Daisy Jones Couch, Durham;
undated. One stanza :
Way down in a long valley.
Where early violets bloom.
There sleeps one gentle Annie
In her cold and silent tomb.
Q
No title. From a manuscript notebook loaned N. L White by Mrs.
Harold Glasscock, Raleigh, in December 1943. "Most or all of her
songs Mrs. Glasscock learned from her parents, and she can sing all
but one of those copied from her notebook" (N. L W.). Six stanzas,
1-5 corresponding to B 4-8 (with a difference in stanza i worth nothing),
stanza 6 borrowing from the store of folksong commonplaces.
I 'Come, Emily, let us wander
Upon some sad seashore.
Come, Emily, let us ponder
Upon our wedding day.'
6 Some say that love is a pleasure.
What pleasure can there be
When the one I love most dearly
Has wandered away from me?
R
'Annie, My Darling.' From Miss Lucy Dunnegan, a student at Trinity
College in 1921, 1923, and 1924- A two-stanza fragment:
NATIVE AMERICAN BALLADS 587
1 Annie knelt in mercy,
A-pleading for her life,
And in her lily-white hosom
He pierced the shining knife.
2 Down by the shadow of willows,
Down by the roaring sea,
There sleeps sweet Annie, my darling,
In a cold and silent grave.
s
'Jealous Lover.' With music. "Clipped from an unidentified newspaper
and recorded by Miss Jewell Robbins," Pekin, Montgomery county, c.
1921-24. Eight stanzas, the first seven corresponding to B 3, 4 ("Ellen"
for "Anna"), 5 ("Edgar" for "Edward"), 9. 7 ("dagerd" for "fatal"),
8, I ; the eighth being an addition.
8 We know not how she suffered,
We know not how .she morn,
But we know the words were spoken,
'Please, Edgar, take me home.'
T
'The Lone Green Valley.' From Miss Nancy Maxwell, of Hazel wood,
Haywood county; Trinity College, A.B., 1920; c. 1919-20. Text in
five long-line stanzas, with some confusion of punctuation and lining in
the first (1. 3 ending ". . . nor by disease" ; and 1. 4 beginning "She
fell . . ."), corrected below; and with other peculiarities.
1 Down in the lone green valley where the violets fade and
bloom
There is where my Lula lies molding in the tomb.
She died not broken-hearted nor by disease she fell,
And in a moment departed from the ones she loved so well.
2 The moon was shining, the s'-ars were shining, too.
When off to a little cottage a jealous lover drew.
'Come and let us wander out in the woods so gay.
While wandering we will ponder, and plan for the wed-
ding day.'
3 The way grew dark before them; says she, 'I'm afraid to
roam.
Farewell to the peaceful cottage, farewell to the friends
and home.'
*Oh, down to this I have got you; you have no wings
to fly.
No mortal arms can save you. Lula, you must die.'
4 'Farewell, kind, loving parents. I will never see you no
more,
588 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
But long will be my coming to the little cottage door.'
Down on her knees she was pleading for her life,
But deep into her bosom flashed a fatal knife.
5 'Oh, if you will forgive me for the crime that I have done,
I will go to some foreign country and never more return.'
'Yes, I will forgive you,' was her last dying word.
Her pulse were closed in beating, her eyes were closed in
death.
u
'Pearl Bryant.' From Miss Zilpah Frisbie, a student in Trinity College
summer school in 1922 and 1923, whose address at the time was Marion,
McDowell county; 1923.
This is a slight adaptation of 'Florella' to the actual story of Pearl
Bryan, concerning which Cox, in FSS 197-8, states the main facts. A
Greencastle, Indiana, girl. Pearl Bryan, died near Fort Thomas, Ken-
tucky, January 31, 1896, as the result of a criminal operation. Pregnant,
she had sought the aid of Scott Jackson, a student in the Ohio College
of Dental Surgery, at Cincinnati. Jackson was assisted in the operation
by a fellow student, named Alonzo Walling. The two men were found
guilty of murder and hanged.
In our collection there is a twelve-stanza text entitled 'Pearl Bryan'
following 'Florella' closely but substituting the names "Pearl Bryan,"
"Scott Jackson," and "Jackson." This was given to Dr. Brown by
Professor J. B. Hubbell, who obtained it in 1924 from a Texas student
at Southern Methodist University.
Not represented in the Frank C. Brown Collection is a fairly inde-
pendent 'Pearl Bryan,' owing something to 'Florella' but showing de-
tailed knowledge of the actual facts about the murder of Pearl Bryan.
For it and for further account of the background, see Brewster, BSI 283.
In SFLQ III 15-19, Ann Scott Wilson attempts to present "an adequate
case history," documenting facts from contemporaneous reports of the
trial of Jackson and Walling and showing that in the more independent
'Pearl Bryan' desire for riddance rather than jealousy is the distinguish-
ing motive.
Miss Frisbie's text is as follows :
1 Down in a lonely valley
Where the fairest flowers bloom,
'Tis there that Pearl Bryant
Lies moulding in her tomb.
2 Down to Pearl Bryant's dwelling
Jackson Walton flew.
His love for her was telling.
And she loved him, too.
3 'Come, Pearl,' he said, 'let's wander
All through these woods again,
And while we roam we'll ponder
Upon our wedding day.'
NATIVE AMERICAN BALLADS 589
4 Down through the woods they wandered
Just at the close of day.
Says Pearl. 'I am so weary ;
Let us retrace our way.'
5 'Retrace your way, no, never,
For in these woods you're doomed ;
So bid farewell forever
To parents, friends, and home.'
6 Down on her knees she knelt before him
And pleaded for her life.
But in her snow-white bosom
He plunged the fatal knife.
7 The flags are waving o'er her,
And loud the trumpets sound.
A stranger came and found her
Cold, lifeless on the ground.
V
'Fair Young Ellen.' From the John Burch Blaylock Collection. Thir-
teen stanzas; lovers' names are Ellen and Edgar; stanza 12 ("young
Edgar was condemned . . .") corresponds to H 13.
W
'Way Down in Lone Green Valley.' From the John Burch Blaylock
Collection. Mr. Blaylock notes that this is the same song as 'Fair Young
Ellen.' Ten stanzas. The man's name is Willie ; the woman's is not
given. The first stanza is unusual.
I Way down in Lone Green Valley
Where roses bloom and fade,
There was a jealous lover
In love with a beautiful maid.
------------------
250
Florella (The Jealous Lover)
'The Jealous Lover.' Sung by the Rev. L. D. Hayman. Recorded as ms score
in Currituck and Dare counties, between 1921 and 1922. The elisions made by
the singer or the writer (measures 3, 6, 9, and 12) are quite evident.
For melodic relationship cf. *AMS 30, measures 2-3; BSSM 85, No. 21-C,
measures 1-2.
Scale: Mode III, plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: aba^bi (3,3,33). The
irrgular sructure of four phrases of three measures each should be noted. It
is due, mentioned above, to intentional or, more likely, unintentional, shorten-
ing of values— a phenomenon that can also be observed in the congregational
singing of hymns.
A(I)
'Jealous Lover.' Sung by Miss Lena Warf. From a previous recording by
Dr. W. A. Abrams, Watauga county ; no date given. This record is very poor
and nothing before the fourth stanza can be made out. Measures 3-4 remind
one of 'When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.'
4th Stanza:
'Come, Love, and let us wan - der — Out in the woods so gay;-
While wand'ring we will pen -der — Up - on ourwed-ding day.'-
Stanza 6
Scale: Heptachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: e-flat. Structure: abed (2,2,2,2).
Variations in tonal content can be seen from the sixth and eighth stanzas given
above.
'The Jealous Lover.' Sung by Dr. I. G. Greer. The "music by I. G. Greer"
mentioned in II 582 has not been found. For a MS score with different text see
250X below.
'Florilla.' Sung by Miss Jane Christenbury. Recorded as MS score at Durham,
in 1923. The text does not fit the description in II 583, but is rather like that of
250X, below. In measures i, 5, and 7, there is some melodic relationship with
the 250U.
For melodic relationship cf. *BSM 328, version L; BMFSB 26, No. 13.
Scale: Hexachordal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: aaia2b (2,2,2,2).
'Down in a Lone Valley.' Sung by Mrs. N. T. Byers. Recorded as ms score
at Zionville, Watauga county, in 1921.
Scale: Hexatonic (3), plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: abaifai (2,2,2,2) =
aai (4,4). Circular tune (V). The last tone is repeated several times, which
would 'point to Irish influence— although numerous English songs show similar
repetition.
'Annie, My Darling.' Sung by Miss Lucy Dunnegan. Recorded as ms score
at Durham, between 1921 and 1924. The text differs from the fragment in 11
587.
For melodic relationship cf. **BSSM 85, No. 21, measures 7-8 and 15-16,
with the last two measures in our version.
Scale: Hexachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: abac (2,2,2,2) = aai
(4.4).
'Jealous Lover.' Sung by Miss Jewell Robbins. Recorded at Pekin, Mont-
gomery county, between 1921 and 1924. The second measure is identical with
that of 250R. .^j
Scale: Heptachordal. Tonal Center: c. Structure: aa^aSb (2,2,2,2) = aa^
(4,4).
'Pearl Bryant.' Sung by Miss Zilpah Frisbie. Recorded at Durham in 1923.
There is some melodic if not rhythmic relationship with the 250D, measures 5
and 7. 432
Scale: Pcntachordal. Tonal Center: d. Structure: abac (2,2,2,2) = aai (4,4)-
'The Jealous Lover.' Sung by Dr. I. G. Greer. Recorded as ms score, probably
at Boone, Watauga county ; no date given. Cf. note on 250C above.