A Golden Cup- Buckner (NC) 1916 Sharp B
[My title. From: English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians 1917; Collected by Olive Dame Campbell and Cecil J. Sharp; Edited Karpeles 1932, edition. His notes follow.
The golden cup or golden ball is featured in some versions, showing motive for the hanging. This is nearly identical to Sharp A and Cox Version G; "By a Lover Saved," which was communicated by Mr. Harold Staats, Ripley, Jackson County, 1921, who writes: "This song was told, or rather sung, to me by some person living on Tug Fork. It is claimed that this song was brought to this country by Captain William Parsons, one of the early settlers. According to legends it was at one time a popular folk song in the British Isles."
1 "Hold up your hands, O Joshua," she cried,
"Wait a little while and see;
I think I hear my own father dear,
Come rambling over the sea."
Clearly the first line was at one time: "Hold up your hands, O Judges," etc. cf. Frank Proffitt
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
A Golden Cup- Buckner (NC) 1916 Sharp B
1 "Hold up your hands, O Joshuay," she cried,
"Wait a little while and see;
I think I hear my own father dear,
Come rambling over the sea."
2 O father, have you any gold for me?
Any silver to pay my fee?
For I have stoled a golden cup
And hanging it will be.
3 No, daughter, no, I have no gold for thee
Nor silver to pay your fee ;
For I have come for to see you hang
All on that willow tree.
Repeat the triad, substituting mother, brother, sister, and true-love for father. The last stanza is as follows:
15. Yes, true love, I have some gold for you
And silver to pay your fee,
For I have come for to pay your fee
And take you home with me.