Bonny Farday- Preston Little (KY) 1932 Niles
[This is from the Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles and appears on Folk Balladeer, RCA Victor Vintage. Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5BGr4aT608
R. Matteson 2012]
Bonny Farday- Preston Little; Hazard, KY 1932; Collected by John Jacob Niles
Listen to Niles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5BGr4aT608
Three fine ladies lived in a bow'ry,
Jewry flow'r and rosemary;
Three fine ladies lived in a bow'ry,
They went forth in a field that was flow'ry;
Jewry flow'r and rosemary.
They pulled flow'rs by two, by three,
Jewry flow'r and rosemary;
They pulled flow'rs by two, by three,
A man come, bent on a robbery;
Jewry flow'r and rosemary.
He asked one sister would she wife,
Jewry flow'r and rosemary;
He asked one sister would she wife,
Or would she die by his wee knife;
Jewry flow'r and rosemary.
She would not be a robber's wife,
Jewry flow'r and rosemary;
She would not be a robber's wife,
He robbed her of her own sweet life;
Jewry flow'r and rosemary.
He buried her so tenderly,
Jewry flow'r and rosemary;
He buried her so tenderly,
To keep the flowers company;
Jewry flow'r and rosemary.
He took the second by the hand,
Jewry flow'r and rosemary;
He took the second by the hand,
He made her lightly step and stand;
Jewry flow'r and rosemary.
He asked this sister would she wife,
Jewry flow'r and rosemary;
He asked this sister would she wife,
Or would she die by his wee knife;
Jewry flow'r and rosemary.
She would not wife, she would not bide,
Jewry flow'r and rosemary;
She would not wife, she would not bide,
So at that robber's hand she died;
Jewry flow'r and rosemary.
So like the first he laid her by,
Jewry flow'r and rosemary;
So like the first he laid her by,
To keep the flowers company;
Jewry flow'r and rosemary.
He took the wee one by the hand,
Jewry flow'r and rosemary;
He took the wee one by the hand,
She would not step, she would not stand;
Jewry flow'r and rosemary.
Said, "I'll not marry such as you,"
Jewry flow'r and rosemary;
Said, "I'll not marry such as you,
Who killed my sisters one and two;"
Jewry flow'r and rosemary.
"Among my kin my brother strong,"
Jewry flow'r and rosemary;
"Among my kin my brother strong,
Will kill you for this very wrong;"
Jewry flow'r and rosemary.
"What name, what name, what name, my fay?"
Jewry flow'r and rosemary;
"What name, what name, what name, my fay?"
"My brother's name is Bonny Farday;"
Jewry flow'r and rosemary.
"Oh Sister, dear, what can I do?"
Jewry flow'r and rosemary;
"Oh Sister, dear, what can I do
But kill myself in rue of you?"
Jewry flow'r and rosemary.
"Come dig my grave full wide and deep,"
Jewry flow'r and rosemary;
"Come dig my grave full wide and deep,
And place my sisters at my feet;"
Jewry flow'r and rosemary.