259
Sweet Jane
A ballad of California gold fever times, apparently, very likely
circulated as a stall print though it has not been found as such.
Shearin's Syllabus shows that it was known in Kentucky, and
Combs also reports it from there (FSMEU 206-7). The Archive
of American Folk Song has records of it from New York, Vir-
ginia, and Missouri.
A
'Sweet Jane.' From the collection of Miss Isabel Rawn.
1 Farewell, sweet Jane, for I must start
Across the foaming sea.
My trunk is now on Johnston's barque
With all my company.
2 Then do not weep, sweet, loving Jane,
Come, dry those tearful eyes,
For I'll return to you again
Unless your Willie dies.
3 I see the sails upon the barque,
The time's all now
Take one sweet kiss l^efore I start
It's mighty deep to plow.^
^ Combs's Kentucky text sets this right :
I see the sails upon the bar,
They are all ready now ;
Just one sweet kiss before I go,
'Tis mighty deep to plow.
NATIVE AMERICAN BALLADS 609
4 She met my lips with flowing tears,
And then I kissed her hand.
'Oh, think of me. sweet W'ilhe dear.
When in some far ofl^ land.'
5 My bosom felt a feeling then
It never felt before.
I got on board with Johnston's men
And left my native shore.
6 For three long months we all did sail
Upon the billows wide ;
The crew was filled with mirth and glee.
But still my bosom sighed.
7 At length we drew in sight of land
And landed on the shore
And I did wander my way to the mines
To dig the golden ore.
8 For three long years I labored hard
A-digging of my wealth.
] lived on Ijread and salted lard
And never lost my health.
9 I loaded up my trunk with gold
And then I thought of Jane.
The anxious thought that homewards roll
As I recrossed the main.
10 For four long months we all did sail
Upon the stormy deep.
One night I thought we all were lost.
The captain was asleep.
1 1 At last we drew in sight of land,
Of our old native town,
And our good captain did command
To take the rigging down.
12 'At five o'clock we heard the roar
From out the cannon's mouth.
And we were welcomed to the shore
Of our old sunny South.
13 I saw a crowd of lovely girls
Come marching to the ship ;
I saw sweet Jane, with all her curls,
And I began to skip.
6lO NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
14 I met her on the marble walk ;
My heart was filled with charm.
We both so glad we could not speak ;
I caught her in my arms.
15 We walked along the marble walk
Up to her father's door.
Oh, Jane did look so nice and neat
While standing on the floor !
16 The parson read the marriage vows
That bound us both for life ;
And Jane is mine without a doubt,
My own dear darling wife.
B
'Sweet Jane.' From the collection of Louise Rand Bascom, Highlands,
Macon county, in 1914. This text omits some of the stanzas of A and
rearranges others; it consists of stanzas i, 2, 4, 10, 8, 13-16 of A with
some slight changes of language.
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259
Sweet Jane
B
'Sweet Jane.' Sung by Mrs. L. R. Bascom. Recorded as ms score at High-
lands, Jackson county, in 1914. Cf. the text of the same title in OFS i 118,
No. 18E.
Scale: Hexatonic (4), plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: ab (4,4).