Bloody Weapon- Leone Duvall (MO) 1923 Randolph A1
[From Ozark Folksongs II, by Randolph 1946, version A1. This is one six versions (designated A1-F1) Randolph collected of an eleven stanza "composed ballad" usually titled The Silver Dagger. This ballad is based on the traditional ballad story, a collected variant of Silver Dagger was published in 1849, the original (circa 1820) has not been found. Only stanza seven and half of eleven are taken from the traditional versions of North America.
Randolph also published six versions (A-F) of Drowsy Sleeper, the traditional version.
R. Matteson 2016]
A1. [Bloody Weapon] Sung by Miss Leone Duvall, Pineville, Mo., June 6, 1923.
Yong men and women pay attention,
To these here lines I'm a-goin' to tell,
They are the truth if ever spoken,
About a young an' beautiful girl.
A young man courted a handsome lady,
He loved her more than he loved his life,
He oft-times made her the solemn promise
That she should be his lawful wife.
But when his parents come to know this,
Th"y strove to part them night an, day,
O son, oh son, don't be so foolish,
She is too pore, they would oft-times say.
He fell upon his knees before them,
Sayin' father, mother, pity me,
Don't take from me my precious jewel,
For she is all the world to me.
An' when the lady come to know this,
She quick resolved what she would do,
She wandered forth from the busy city,
Its love an' pleasure she no more knew.
She wandered down by the flowin' river,
For three long days in a deep despair,
She told her friends farewell forever,
An' then for death she did prepare.
She gazed a moment up to heaven,
Wherein her soul should find its rest,
She then drawed out the silver dagger
An' pierced it through her snow white breast.
The young man at the roadside near hero
He thought he heard his true love cry,
He run around as one distracted
Oh love, I fear you're a-goin' to die.
He then picked up the bloody weapon,
An' pierced it through his own true heart,
Oh let this be a woeful warnin',
To all that would true lovers part.
A double coffin was directed,
Their hands placed on each others' breast,
An' now the lovers lie a-sleepin'
Together in eternal rest.