275
They Say It is Sinful to Flirt
No doubt a parlor song originally, this has not been traced to an
individual author. It seems to be current as folk song only in the
Southern states: Virginia (FSSH 242), Kentucky (FSSH 241.
BTFLS III 93), Tennessee (ETWVMB 90-1), North Carolina
(FSSH 239-41), Alabama (FSSH 238-9), Mississippi (JAFL
XXXIX 164) ; it is also included in Mrs. Richardson's AMS 57.
The texts in our collection are so much alike that it will suffice to
give one of them.
A 'Sinful Flirting.' From Miss Wagoner's manuscript songbook, com-
piled at Vox, Alleghany county.
B 'It Is Sinful to Flirt.' Communicated by Zilpah Frisbie of Mc-
Dowell county in 1923. With the air, for which see Vol. II.
C 'Willie.' Secured by Gertrude Allen (Mrs. Vaught) in Alexander
county.
D 'Willie.' From Mrs. Minnie Church, Heaton, Avery county.
E 'Poor Willie Dead and Gone.' Secured by W. Amos Abrams from
Margaret Barlowe, one of his students in Boone, Watauga county, in
1937-
F No title. Secured by Professor Abrams from Mary Bost of States-
ville, Iredell county.
G 'Sinful to Flirt.' From the manuscripts of Obadiah Johnson of
Crossnore, Avery county.
For the same story in another form, see 'The Little White Rose,' No. 277.
NATIVE AMERICAN BALLADS 639
'Sinful Flirting.' Entered in Miss Wagoner's manuscript book probably
about 1911-13 and inscribed "Written by a friend, Emma Todd, Eunice,
N. C."
1 Oh ! they say it is sinful to flirt,
Oh ! they tell me my heart is made of stone.
Oh ! they tell me to speak to him kind
Or else leave the poor boy alone.
2 Oh ! they say he is only a boy,
But I'm sure he's much older than me ;
And if they would let us alone
I'm sure he much happier would be.
3 I remember one night when he said
That he loved me far more than his life.
He called me his darling, his pet,
And asked of me to be his wife.
4 'Oh, my darling,' I said with a sigh,
'Oh, I'm sure that I'll have to say no.'
He held to my hand for a while
And said, 'Goodby. I must go.'
5 'Oh, my darling,' P said with a sigh,
'Oh! I'm sure that your heart is made of stone.'
He took a white rose from my hair
And left me a-standing alone.
6 Next morning poor Willie was dead.
He was drowned in the pool by the mill,
In the clear crystal water so clear
That ran from the break of the hill.
7 His eyes were forever closed
And damp was his soft brown hair
And close to his pale lips he held
The white rose that he took from my hair.
8 Oh. Willie, my darling, come back !
I will ever be faithful and true.
Oh, Willie, dear darling, come back !
I will ever be faithful to you.
* Other texts have here — and the sense requires — "he."
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275
They Say It Is Sinful to Flirt
'Sinful Flirting.' Sung by C. F. Faucette. Recorded at Greenville, S. C, 1923.
The latter part of this tune is quite closely related to that of 275A(i) ; it is but
slightly related to 275B.
For melodic relationship cf. *FSSH 238-40.
Scale: Heptachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: abcb^ (2,2,2,2) =
ab (4,4).
A(I)
'Sinful Flirting.' Sung by Miss Lena Ward. Recorded at Reidsville, Rocking-
ham county, in 1940. Another title is 'Willie Down by the Road.' This tune
is almost identical with that of the preceding version.
For melodic relationship cf. *** JAFL xlv (1932)
5-6 only. **FSSH 238, measures 1-4.
Scale: Heptachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: abcb (2,2,2,2)
B
"It Is Sinful to Flirt.' Sung by Miss Zilpah Frisbie. Recorded in McDowell
county in 1923. 462
For melodic relationship cf. ***JAFL xlv (1932), 89, No. 175; **FSSH
238^ No. 72A, first two measures, and ibid., still more so, 240, version No. 272C.
Scale : Heptachordal, plagal. Tonal Center : f. Structure : aba^c (2,2,2,2) =
aai (4,4).