As The Dew Flies Over the Valley- Kelly (KY) 1917 Sharp C (see also: Jean Ritchie)
[My title, Sharp used the generic, The Wife Wrapt in Wether's Skin. In this version there's no wether skin so the title is less appropriate. In some English versions the dew=doo=dove, whether this is the origin is uncertain. See Gilchrist's article about "Herb refrains." The first refrain- For gentle, for Jenny, for rosa maree, is somtimes "fair Jenny" etc. (see Jean Ritchie's version, which is either based on this or the "Hindman School" version that her sisters learned.) The 6th stanza, first line usually ends with elf- so it rhymes with shelf.]
From: English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians
Two Editions: Olive Dame Campbell and Cecil J. Sharp, 1917; Sharp and Karpeles 1932 Edition
Sharp's 1917 notes: No. 33. (1917) No. 39 (1932) The Wife Wrapt in Wether's Skin.
Texts without tunes:—Child, No. 277. Gavin Greig's Folk-Song of the North-East, I., art. 13; and II., art. 122. Ford's Song Histories, pp. 271-274. Texts with tunes:—Journal of the Folk-Song Society, ii., 223; v., 260. Folk Songs from Somerset, No. 97. Ford's Vagabond Songs of Scotland, p. 192. American variants:—Journal of American Folk-Lore, vii., 253; xix., 298.
D. [As The Dew Flies Over the Valley] The Wife Wrapt in Wether's Skin- Sung by Miss POLLY ANN KELLY at Hindman School, Knott Co., Ky., Sept. 20, 1917; Heptatonic. Dorian.
1. I married me wife and took her home,
For gentle, for Jenny, for rosa maree,
I often wish I'd left her a lone,
As the dew flies over the green valley.
2 For fear of spoiling her new cloth shoes,
All in the kitchen she would not use.
3 First day at noon came in from plough.
My dearest wife, is my dinner ready now?
4 Lays a piece of bread upon the shelf.
If you want any dinner go get it yourself.
5 Next day at noon came in from plough.
My dearest wife, isn't dinner ready now?
6 Get out of here, you dirty scamp (?). [elf]
If you want any dinner go get it yourself.
7 Took my knife and went to the barn.
I cut me hickory as long as my arm.
8 As I went back to the house,
Around her back I made it crack.
9 I'll tell my father and all my kin
That you have hit me with a hickory limb.
10 You can tell your father and all your kin;
I've whipped you once and I'll whip you again.