Drowsy Sleeper- Mrs. T. White (NL) 1929 Greenleaf
[From: Ballads and Sea-Songs of Newfoundland. Elisabeth Bristol Greenleaf Grace Yarrow Mansfield; 1933. Notes by Kittredge follow.
Northern and Canadian versions usually have "shining" dagger instead of silver dagger.
R. Matteson 2016]
24. DROWSY SLEEPER
For other records of this widely distributed song, see Mackenzie, No. 30; Cox, No. 108 (with references); Hudson, No. 27; Parsons, Folk-Lore of the Seastrands, p. 178 (South Carolina.); D. Ord, pp. 318-3I9; Belden MS., Harvard College Library, XLII. The airs to which this ballad is sung are as related as the texts, apparently. All that I have heard are in three-two time, and most of them have the same general sequence of high and low notes (D. Campbell and Sharp, No. 47, C).
Drowsy Sleeper- Sung by Mrs. Tom White, Jr., Sandy Cove. 1929.
1 "Arise, arise, you drowsy sleeper,
Arise and listen unto me;
Here is someone at your bedroom window,
Weeping, weeping, most bitterly.
2 "O Mary dear, go ask your father
If you will be my wedded bride;
If be says no, come quick and tell me,
And I will no more trouble you."
3. "I dare not go and ask my father,
For he is on his bed of rest,
And by his side a shining dagger
To pierce the one that I love best."
4 "O Mary dear, go ask your mother
If you will be my wedded bride;
If she says no, come quick and tell me,
And I will no more trouble you."
5 "I dare not go and ask my mother,
For she is born to set me free;
Please, Edward dear, go seek some other;
Your wedded bride I never shall be."
6 "O, I can climb the highest tree-top,
And I can rob the richest nest,
And I can court a fair young lady,
But not the one what I love best."
7. Edward drew a shining dagger
And pierced it through his aching heart:
"Here's adieu, here's adieu to all false lovers;
Fare you well, Mary, we must part."