Come All Good People- William Ireland (NB) c. 1954
[From Folks Songs from Southern New Brunswick by Creighton, 1971. CR I45 B-I3. He notes follow.
R. Matteson 2016]
NOTES: Brewster, p. 211, states that four versions of this song have been recovered in Indiana, all under its usual title, "The Silver Dagger." All the references I have found are from this continent.
See: Brewster, p. 211; Cox. p. 350; Randolph, vol. 2. Natl. Mus. tapes 5, 91B, 110B, 118A, 189A from widely separated parts of Nova Scotia.
57. Come All Good People. - Sung by William Ireland of Elgin, N. B. c. 1954
1. Come all good people and pay attention
All unto those few lines I write,
They are just as true as e'er was mentioned
Concerning a fair lady bright.
2. A young man courted her for his jewel,
He loved her dear as he loved his life,
Saying, "Love, it always was my intention
To make you my sweet and lawful wife."
3. Now when his parents came to know this
They strove to part them night and day,
They strove to part him from his jewel
"She's poor, she's poor," they oftimes did say.
4. Now when this fair one came to know this
She soon resolved what she would do,
She left the valley, the quiet city,
No more those pleasant groves to view.
5. She wandered forth by a flowing river
And there for death sire did prepare
Saying, "Here I'll end my awful mourning
For I am plunged in deep despair."
6. She pull-ed forth a silver dagger
And pressed it through her snowy breast,
First she reeled and then she staggered
Saying, "Fare thee well love, I'm going to rest."
7. Her true lover being in a thicket
He thought he heard his true love's voice,
He ran, he ran like one distracted
Saying, "Oh dear love I fear you're lost."
8. He pick-ed up her bleeding body,
He rolled it over in his arms,
Saying, "Love, could gold or silver save you
Or must you die with all your charms?"
9. Her two black eyes like stars or diamonds
She rolled them forth and this did say,
"Prepare to meet me on Mount Zion
Where all our joy's will be complete."
10. He pick-ed up the bloody dagger,
He pressed it through his own dear heart,
Saying, "May this be a solemn warning
To all that would true lovers part."