Death of William & Nancy- Scott (MO) 1909 Belden G
[From: Ballads and Songs, 1940- Belden.
R. Matteson 2016]
G. 'Death of William and Nancy.' Sent in by C. H. Williams in 1909, who had it from J. G. Scott, who learned it from a girl who in turn had learned it 'in the hill country of Bollinger and Perry Counties.' One of the Missouri texts that have adopted the Silver Dagger ending.
'Who is that at my bed window?
'Who is there I do not know ?'
'Tis I, 'tis I, your own true lover.
Oh, come, oh, come and pity me.'
She raised her head from her pure white pillow
And out of the window she looked, to see;
Who did she spy but her own true lover
Sitting beneath the willow tree,
Saying, 'Nancy, go and ask your mother
If you my wedded bride may be;
If she says no, return and. tell me
And I no more will trouble thee.'
'It's of no use to ask my mother,
For I'm the only girl she's got.
In her right hand she holds a letter
To show me the man I should love best.'
'Oh, Nancy, go and ask your father
If you my wedded. wife may be;
If he says no, return and tell me
And I no more will trouble thee.'
'It's of no use to ask my father,
For he is on his bed of rest;
And by his side there lies a dagger
To kill the man that I love best.'
William took up the shining dagger,
Pierced it in his aching heart:
'Adieu, adieu, my own dear Nancy,
Adieu, adieu! We both must part.'
Then Nancy took up the bloody dagger,
Pierced it in her pure white breast:
'Adieu, adieu, my own dear William,
Adieu, adieu! 'We're both at rest.'