87
Early, Early in the Spring
For a brief history of this ballad and its appearance in other
collections, see BSM 163, and add to the references there given
Virginia (FSV 62-3), North Carolina (FSRA 130-1), Arkansas
(OFS I 334-5, 337), Missouri (OFS i 333-4, 335-7), and Indiana
(SFLQ V 175-6). The three texts in our collection do not differ
greatly.
'Early, Early in the Spring.* Secured from ]\Iiss Fannie Grogan oi
Silverstone, Watauga county, in May 1917-
1 Early, early in the spring
I went on board to serve my king
And left my dearest dear behind,
Who ofttime said her heart was mine.
2 When I held her in my arms
I thought I held ten thousand charms,
A thousand promises and kisses sweet,
Saying, 'We will get married next time we meet.'
3 When I was sailing and on the sea
Not a moment of peace, oh, could I see
For writing letters to my dearest dear ;
But not one word from her could I hear.
OLDER H A I, L A D S MOSTLY H R I T I S II 2gi
4 At last I came to Samcgo town.^
I walk the streets both up and down
Inquiring for my dearest dear,
But not one word from her could I hear.
5 I walked right up to her father's hall,
There for my true love I did call.
The answer was, 'She is married now;
She married a man to better her life.'
6 I walked right up, her hand did take,
Sayitig, 'Now all false promises I will break.
You have proved false and I've proved true.
And now forever I'll bid you adieu.
7 'I'll go back on board again,
I'll go back to serve my king,
I'll go back where the bullets fly,
Sail on deep water until I die.'
8 'Oh, don't go back on board again.
Oh, don't go back to serve your king,
Oh, don't go back where the bullets fly ;
For there's many pretty girls much better than I.'
9 'I'll curse both gold and silver too,
Also the girl that don't prove true.
That will marry a man for riches' sake
And leave her true lover's heart to break.
10 'There is a river runs through this town
In which my body may be found.
I want to be buried under youn's green tree.
Remember, love, I died for thee.'
'Early in the Spring.' As sung by Mrs. Charles K. Tillett, of Wan-
chese, Roanoke Island, in 1922. The text does not differ markedly
from A. No town is named. The last four of the seven stanzas run :
4 Her cruel old parent made this reply :
'My daughter is married and you deny.'
'Your daughter is married ? What do you mean ?'
'My daughter is married most like a queen.'
5 'Oh, curse all gold and silver too,
Curse all sweethearts that won't prove true ;
Curse be the man that's married my love,
May he have curses from above.'
^ Cambiaire's Tennessee text and Henry's from Virginia have "Saint-
ler's town" ; one of Cox's from West Virginia has "Gladys town." I
can explain none of these names.
292 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
6 'Oh, Stop, young man ! Oh, stop !' says she,
'There's as weaUhy girls in this town as I.
Your fortune great but none Hke mine,
So don't speak harm of a woman kind.'
7 I sail to the city call[ed] seaport town
Where the cannon balls will me surround ;
I sail the seas till the day I die
And sweep the deep where the bullets fly.
c
'It Was Early.' Contributed by James York of Olin, Iredell county, in
1939. Although it does not differ greatly from A and B, its variants
interestingly illustrate the operation of oral tradition. The last line of
each stanza is repeated.
1 It was early, early in the spring
I was pressed on board to meet the king,
To leave my dearest dear behind
Who had ofttimes said that her heart was mine.
Who had ofttimes said that her heart was mine.
2 As I was on the raging sea
I took the opportunity
To write unto my dearest dear ;
But nothing from her could I hear.
3 I rode up to her father's hall
And loudly for her did I call.
Her father made me this reply,
Saying, 'She is married and you must be denied.'
4 I asked him what that he did mean.
He answered me all in her name :
'She's married to a richer life ;
Go, find you another, another wife.'
5 Cursed be his gold and silver too
And all fair girls who won't be true,
Who will their own fair promise break
And marry another for riches' sake.
6 I'll go where the drum and fife do play
And never ceaseth night or day.
I'd rather be on the raging sea
Than to be in a false girl's company.
7 'Oh, Willie, Willie, please stay on shore,
Don't go to the raging sea any more.
There's girls all around more fair than I.
Don't split the waves where the bullets fly.'
8 And since I've lost my gold and^ crown,
I'll sail the ocean round and round,
I'll sail the sea till the day I die,
I'll split the waves where the bullets fly.
-----------------------
87
Early, Early in the Spring
'Early, Early in the Spring.' Sung by Mrs. James York. Recorded at Olin,
Iredell county. May 1917. This version is identical with another from Ruth
Weatherman, collected by Dr. W. A. Abrams ; also very closely related to 87C.
The text is similar to that of SharpK 11 152 and 154, No. 125 B and E.
Scale: Heptachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: c. Structure: abbia^ai (2,2,2,2,2).
B
'Early in the Spring.' Sung by C. K. Tillett. Recorded at Wanchese, Roanoke
Island, in 1922.
Scale: Mode II, plagal. Tonal center: f-sharp. Structure: abb^c (2,2,2,2) =
ab (4,4).
'It Was Early.' Sung by James York. Recorded at Olin, Iredell county, in
1939. Very closely related to 87A. The singer asked the present editor to make
the following corrections : stanza 3, "And loudly for her I did call" ; stanza 5,
"And all fair girls who won't prove true" ; stanza 7, "Don't split the waves
where the billows fly."
For melodic relationship cf. ***OFS i 336, No. 81 D, measures 2-4 and 14-16
and our measures 1-2 and 9-10.
Scale: Mode III. Tonal Center: d. Structure: abbia^ai (2,2,2,2,2).