Sweet William- Kelley (MS) 1928 Hudson
[From Arthur Palmer Hudson, Mississippi Folklore Society, Arthur Palmer Hudson - 1928 - Also Folksongs of Mississippi 1936.
R. Matteson 2014]
Sweet William- recovered by Miss Lois Womble of Walter Valley, from the singing of Miss Molly Kelley, Banner.
1. Sweet William arose one morning in May
When the leaves were green and gay;
He swung his bugle around his neck
And he went riding away.
2 He rode till he came to fair Elinor's door;
He knocked till he made it ring.
"Be asleep or awake, Fair Elinor," he said;
"Be asleep or awake, let me in."
3 Fair Elinor arose, slipped on her clothes
For to let Sweet William in,
So ready was she to go with him
And leave all the rest of her kin.
4 He mounted her on the milk-white horse
And himself on the back of the bay
And swung his bugle around his neck,
And then went riding away.
5 They rode till they came in a mile of town;
Then he looked back again;
He saw her father and her seven brothers
Come riding down the lane.
6 "Oh, light you down, Fair Elinor," he said,
"And hold my horse for me
Till I fight your father and seven of your brothers
Come riding down the lane."
7 Fair Elinor stood and looked very sad;
Nor one word did she say
Till she saw her father's own heart's blood
Come flowing down to his knees.
8 "Be mad or pleased," Fair Elinor she said;
"Be mad or pleased as you may be.
I wish myself in old Ireland
And you in the middle of the sea."
9 He mounted her on the milk-white horse,
Himself on the back of the bay,
He rode till he came to his mother's door;
He knocked till he made it ring.
10 "Be asleep or awake, dear Mother,' he said,
Be asleep or awake, let me in."
. . .
. . .
11. Sweet William died, as if were today,
Fair Elinor died tomorrow,
Sweet William died with a wound in his side,
Fair Elinor died for sorrow.