Dialect Notes, Volume 4; 1917
by Josiah Combs
DIALECT NOTES- Volume IV, Part V, 1916
DIALECT OF THE FOLK-SONG.
The dialectic words and anomalies that appear below were culled from folk-songs picked up here and there, from Georgia to West Virginia. Some of the songs are traditional, and are identified with Child's collection. Others are indigenous to American soil, and their setting belongs largely to the Southern mountains. The term "folk-song" as here used, for the sake of convenience, includes also play- and dance-songs, rimes, jigs and ditties.
Word changes and irregularities occurring in these songs are, as a rule, not common to the highlander's every-day speech. The highlander strives to use better English in his folk-songs. As a result, clipped forms and contractions are seldom met with. The familiar -ing never becomes -in'. Proper names also have undergone quite a change in the traditional folk-song, some of them being now almost unrecognizable. This is explained by the fact that the air of the song is of more importance than the words. When the highlander is cornered and asked about a strange word, he usually remarks, in the words of Prof. H. G. Shearin, "O shucks! that's jist in the song."
The syntactical changes appear to be numerous. Meter sometimes requires it, sometimes rime. Here and there an auxiliary verb is omitted, as in "Who had (done) the awful deed?" A simple auxiliary sometimes changes its pronunciation in order to rime with some other word, as " have," "brave." Pronouns are freely omitted. Glaring inconsistencies in time, and otherwise, appear, as in "O Now to me the Time Draws Near":
"O now to me the time draws near,
That every day is three, my love,
And every hour is ten."
And this, from "A Pretty Fair Damsel in the Garden": "His fingers being very long and tall." A strange figure is found in "William Riley":
"His hair is over his shoulders,
Like many smiles of gold."
Various formal words and terms are used glibly, often with a changed meaning, such as "exposition," "limitation," etc.
JOSIAH H. COMBS.
Hindman, Kentucky.
abou', prep. About. "And abou' the way he fell."—Hiram Hubbert.
abracing, p. adj. Embracing. "Abracing of each other."—Come all ye Jolly Boatsman Boys.
ago, adv. Omitted, for purposes of rime.
"I will tell you of a circumstance
Which happened not very long."
—Floyd Frazier.
all, adj. and pron. Widely used, redundantly. "All in his hand." "She picked him up all in her arms."—Jackaro. "All on last Friday morning."— Poor Henry.
ario ('ean'-o), n. An unidentified word ataerie-o or area-o]. "And kill all the ladies in the ario."—Pretty Peggy—O.
around, adv. 1. Through. Used obviously for the rime.
"And every town that she rode around,
They took her to be some queen."
—The Meeting of an Old True Love. 2. On, upon. "That e'er the Sun shone around."
arrove, v. Arrived. "The stage just arrovs there."—There Was a Rich Old Farmer.
as, adv. Equivalent to -ly.
One night as I lay sleeping,
So sound as I did sleep. ..."
—William Riley.
attend unto, v. phr. To listen to. "Attend unto my rime."—Lovely Caroline of Old Edinboro Town.
at time, adv. phr. Betimes, in good season. "At time they arrived in London." —Lovely Caroline of Old Edinboro Town.
bald-headed end of broom, 1i. phr. The handle. Slang. Rare in balladry.—Love is Such a Funny Thing.
be, v. i. Been. "Has any my men false be ?"—Lord Vanner.
bed-feet, n. Foot of the bed. "He arose and stood at her bed-feet."— In Yonders Forth Town. Also in Sweet William.
bell(e?). Feminine-faced? Or, curved like a bell? "You little bell(e)faced mountain."—All on the Banks of Clauda.
bouquet (b6ki), n. Pawpaw.
"Where, O where, is pretty little Mary?
Way down yonder in the bouquet patch."
—Pawpaw Patch.
broad, adj. A " broad" description, as in : "His image hit was broad." —Lord Thomas.
bowing-door (bauiy), n. phr. Bow- or bower window. "Lydia Margaret was standing in her bowingdoor."—Sweet William.
bright, adj. Bride's? "He seated her down by his bright side."—Lord Thomas.
broadways, adv. Straightway? "And broadways they came tossling under."—Sweet William.
browsy, adj. Drowsy ?" Yon look too brown and browsy."—Here Come Two Dukes A-Roving. [Perhaps, from browse, brush.]
calico-side, on the, prep. phr. "A-courting." A bit of slang, rare in the folk-song.—Seymour Wilson.
cast, prep. Past. "Her name it was Dinah, cast sixteen years old."— The Rich Margent.
casten, adj. Castle? "Has any of casten walls fell down?"—Lord Vanuer. Also in Lord Lovell.
charm, n. Love. "Our hearts were filled with charm."—Sweet Jane.
clay, n. Ground: used without the article. "He spy his dear Dinah a-laying on clay."—The Rich Margent.
colalee (k6lal-i), n. Irish colleen, sweetheart.—Rose Colalee.
comelite (tomiaft), adj. Comely. Not "Campbellite," as has been suggested "She was a fair and comelite Dane (dame ?)."—In Yondera Forth Town.
content, n. Mind, thought. "Miss Betsey not knowing her content."— Betsey Brown.
corgilee (koardzil-l), n. A grade of silk ?" Go dress yourself, Dinah, in rich corgilee."—The Rich Margent. [Cf. Fr. cordillat.]
countenance, n. Attention, favor. "Any countenance to him show.'' —Bailiff's Daughter of Islupton.
country, n. Pronounced counter't. Lengthening of countrie. "And let him leave his counterie."—William Riley.
crop, v. i. To approach; creep. "Until sharp hunger came cropping on her."—Sweet William.
cubec, n. Cupid? "Cubec's garden." [So in Neb. version, "Cubeck's garden." See R. B. Johnson's Popular British Ballads, II, 246.—Louise Pound.]
darger, n. Dagger. "She pulled out a silver darger."—There was a Young Man Who Loved a Lady.
dark and gay, adj. phr. An odd combination found here and there through the folk-song. "Through meadows dark and gay."—Florella.
darnful, adj. Doleful ?" She pitched him in that darnful well."—Loving Henry.
death-coffin, n. Coffin. "But if my death-coffin was at my door."— Lord Thomas.
deceitful (dis-ilful). "She said 'You hard-hearted deceitful villyains !'" —Sweet William. Hibernian pronunciation.
deiiter, n. Indentation, valley, meadow ?" Away down in that fair and green denter."—In Yonders Forth Town.
deslain (disl-en), adj. Disdain(ful)? "He told her how he could be so deslain."—In Yonders Forth Town, etc.
devour, v. i. To declare, avow. "He always talked and devoured unto her."—There Was a Young Man Who Loved a Lady.
dewel (diu3l), n. Jewel. "O, Johnnie, my dear dewel."—All on the Banks of Clauda.
dingle,-v. i. Strike, pound. Tingle? From v. ding. "He dingled so loud on the ring."—Lord Vanner.
dissolved, v. Resolved. "She soon dissolved what she would do."— There Was a Young Man Who Loved a Lady.
dollo, n. Dollar. "The Moonshiner."
"I'll sell you one quart, boys,
For a one dollo bill."
doomfnl, adj. Doleful? Or dufe-ful? Or fateful ?" They throwed him into that doomful well."—Sweet William.
doste, n. Dose. "A doste of old morphine."—Love My Honey.
drew. v. i. Draw. "I shortly would drew nigh."—Loving Saro.
dwell, pret. Dwelt.
"But O, the cruel evil
That dwell in Baker's heart."
—William Baker.
Eddingsburg, n. Edinburgh. "Eddingsburg town."
exposition, n. Discretion, way, whim.
'' Go on at your own exposition,
And court just who you please."
—Loving Hanner.
failed, v. i. Pale? Fade? "And all your fine color has failed."—Lord Thomas.
firming, p. adj. Affirming. "And I'll perform my finning vow."— Darby's Ram.
flatter with, v. phr. "And with this young man they both would flatter."—In Yonders Forth Town.
flatter a case, v. phr. To push a suit for matrimony. "No money, no money to flatter the case."—Little Anna.
for to, conj. phr. Variously used, in addition to clauses of purpose, and motion. "And when their poor parents came for to know it."—William Hall.
"There amongst the rest
I'll have you for to wear."
—William Riley.
forth, adj. Coast? Post? "In yonders forth there lived a margent." (Title.)
forthwide, adw Forthwith. "He ordered the grave to be opened forthwide."—Lord Lovely (Lovel). from, prep. In, around. "From London he did dwell."—Jackars.
full, adj. Fine?
"Some money you would bring me,
And some other full thing."
—Little Anna.
Oabel (g'ebal), n. The angel Gabriel. In the old sequence-song, or Zaehllied:
"Nine bright lights a-shining,
Eight Gabel angels,"
—Twelve Apostles.
gaily. Term of affection. [Girly?—Ed.] "Come and go home with my little gaily."—Lord Daniel's Wife.
gallace (g celts), adj. Variant of gallows, gallant. "I'll give you a husband both gallace and gay."—The Rich Margent.
gallows-tree (g'ontes), n. In general, the gallows. "For I'm condemned to the gallows-tree."
go, pret. Went. "And to her father go."—William Baker.
golden, n. Gold. "I'd a locked my heart with a key of golden."— Little Sparrow. Or perhaps a transposition, " A golden key."
gouesome, adj. Lonesome. "The gonesome seems of winter."
gore, n. A mass of gore. -' All wallered o'er in gores of blood."—Sweet William.
had. With done omitted, as in:
"But the one who lingered near Was a man they all did fear— Who had the awful deed." hangen, pp. Hanged.
"I'll build a gallows just for you,
And hangen you shall be."
—Lord Vanner.
hastily (hes-lai) adv. "He hastily returned."—William Baker,
have (hi-v), v.
"A thief will but rob you and take all you have,
And an unconstant true-lover will bring you to the grave."
—Cuckoo.
highly, adv. Greatly. "She is highly mistaken to think that I'll mourn." —Cuckoo.
hill-gate, n. Hell-gate. "The hill-gates are open, and you must go through."—The Greenwood Side.
horn-bugle, n. Bugle, horn. "He threw his horn-bugle 'round his neck."—Fair Ellender.
if, conj. Omitted, as in: "Lady Nancy she died as it might be today."— Lord Lovely. image, n. Appearance.
"She dressed herself in the finest she had,
Her image it was green."
—Lord Thomas.
insist, v. t. To bear ; tolerate. "I would not insist a single body."—A Pretty Fair Damsel in the Garden.
Ireland, n. Iron. The context of the song, and the background (Kentucky) bear out the word iron.
"They have got him in Ireland,
Bound to the ground."
—Little Anna.
it, pron. Superfluous object, as in: "She pierced it through Fair Ellen der's heart."—Lord Thomas. Perhaps confused with piercid, dissyllabic.
jangle, v. t. Jingle. "And jangled all at the ring (of the door)."—Lord Thomas.
Kalamazine, n. Kalamazoo, Mich. Obviously used for rhyme. "Way down yander in Kalamazine, Bullfrog served on a sewing-machine." king, n. Kin. "All of your riches to the nearest of king."—The Rich Margent.
knew. Pret. used for infinitive form. "And when his old parents came for to knew this."—There Was a Young Man Who Loved a Lady.
land, n. Superfluous, as in: "Into some foreign country land."—William Riley.
laurel, adj. Loyal.
"Since you've proved so laurel,
Unto me you'll remain."
-The Salt Sea.
limitation, n. Giving up of the ' lease on life.'
"With sad limitation I surely must die."
—Jack Combs' Death Song, lovely, (1-vvlai), adj. Close, careful. "Give lovely attention."—The Salt Sea.
maple, n. Confused with May-pole.
"Twice one is two
And one and two is three;
Dance around the maple
Just like me."
—Old dance-song.
margent [Fr. marchant or obsolete pron. martfint], n. Merchant. "There was a rich margent from London did dwell."—The Rich Margent. Miss, n. Mrs. Peculiar use of in:
"Up stepped old Miss mother."
—Little Anna.
murdery, ft. Murder. "I call it murdery."—William Riley.
neatly, adj. Neat.
"O, Riley he's a handsome man,
Most neatly to behold."
—William Riley.
Notamon, n. Nottingham ?" Fair Notamon town." nurse, v. i. To hold on the knees, or in the lap.—I Won't Marry at All. of, prep. Redundant, as in: "Concerning of Hiram (H&rm) Hnbbert." —Hiram Hubbert.
peek, v. t. Pick. "She peeked up that bloody darger."—There Was a Young Man Who Loved a Lady.
prevail, v. To prevail upon. "His mind did me prevail."—All on the Banks of Clauda. redemption, n. Pardon? Homage?
"Lord Vanner is to redemption gone,
To King McHenry's throne."
—Lord Vanner.
regent, adj. Raging ?" The regent sea there for to sail."—In Yonders Forth Town.
Rhode's Island. Rhode Island. "But to prepare to meet me on Rhode's Island."—There Was a Young Man Who Loved a Lady.
republic one, n. phr. Republican? "I am a true republic one."— Jack Wilson (James Irving). Jack Wilson was a Thames boatman, executed in Newgate Prison.
roll a song, v. phr. To advise. "O mother, O mother, go roll a song." —Lord Thomas. "'Orede, O rede, mither,' he says."—Ibid. Also: "Riddle my sport;" "riddle my riddle."—Child, No. 78.
satisfaction, n. A " good time." "Says see your satisfaction, brother," —Talt Hall's Confession.
science, n. Swine. "I dreamed last night of young science in my room." —Sweet William. Some versions have " red wine" (blood).
seem, n. Scene. "The gonsome seems of winter."
shrink away, v. phr. Die ; pass away.
"Eleven balls went through him,
His body shrunk away."
—Hiram Hubbert.
speed, adv. Speedily. "And there will have the wedding speed."—Lady Caroline of Old Edinboro Town.
spy, pret. Spied. "Who you reckon she spy ?"—Sweet William.
sqniro, n. 'Squire. "Rosanna is married to the squiro indeed."—Rosanna.
station, n. Condition. "Here she sits in her sad station."—The Boatman.
stonative (stun'ettv), adjt Stony? "He led me through stonative ground."—The Butcher's Boy. storm, n. Stream.
"He saw the corpse of Little Omie
On the bottom of the storm."
—Little Omie Wise.
strike, v. i. To become, snddenly. "Soon as John heard that he struck sad."—Betsy Brown. m
studies, n. pi. Thoughts, reflections. "She begin to reflect on her former studies."—The Awful Wedding.
tall, adj. Confused in dimension relations, as in: "His fingers being very long and tall."—A Pretty Fair Damsel in the Garden, that, pron. Redundant, as in:
1' Then up spoke an aged lawyer,
These words that he did say."—William Riley.
"To many a show that I have been."—The Rich and Rambling Boy.
the, def. art. Frequently used before the names of countries. Cf. Fr. la France. "But there's another girl in the fair Scotland."—Loving Henry.
thee's, pron. Thy. "I hate thee's compan-ai."—Jack Wilson.
they, pron. Omitted frequently, as in: "Together did wander, together did go."—The Pretty Maumee (Mohee).
thrown, adj. Variant of Scot, thrown, as wrenched, in: "And they found him killed and thrown."—Sweet William.
toise, v. t. Poise.
"His wife fell out upon the ground,
To toise her dying head."
—The Irish Peddler.
to8sle, v. t. Tussle? Cf. broad warp.
tripple,r. i. — trip, walk. "Come trippling o'er the plain."—Fair Ellender. 'turn, n. Return. "As she was on her turn back home."—Loving Henry.
unconscious, adj. Conscienceless. "An unconscious true-lover is worse than a thief."—Cuckoo.
unto, prep. Until, till. "My friends, I tell you, it's unto to-morrow." —Sweet William.
vailed, pret. Valued. "And all I got I valldd not."—Jack Wilson, villyain', n. Villain. "Hush up, hush up, jonoliviUyain'."—Six Pretty Fair Maids. In everyday speech this word is stressed on the initial syllable.
water, v. i. "The fish are watering around."—Lovely Caroline of Old Edinboro Town, were, v. Common with singular nouns.
"They throwed hiui into that doomful well,
Where the water were cold and deep."
—Sweet William.
"I found it all were true."—There Was a Rich Old Farmer.
wholloping, adj. Variant of walloping. "She got her three great old wholloping marrowbones."—Darby's Ram, williners, n. Willows?
"Old gray horse come a-trottin' through the williners
Down in Alabamy." (Old ditty.)
wound,p. adj. Wounded. "She was deadly wound."—Floyd Frazier.
Hichmond, Va.
J. H. COMBS