Fair Lucy- George (Vermont) c.1883 Flanders; version A1
[From Ancient Ballads, Flanders 1966; also from Ballads Migrant to New England, Flanders. One of three versions derived from Newell Slayton. George's version was learned c. 1883 when he was a child. George's sister, Myra Daniel's sang the same version with "moan instead of "mourn" in the opening stanza. Daniel's version was recorded twice by Barry c. 1934. The ballad was also sung by Alice Sicily Newell Slayton's daughter.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
Fair Lucy- George (Vermont) learned c.1883 Flanders
(Repeat last two lines in each verse.)
1. Fair Lucy was sitting in her father's hall,
Making her lamency mourn; [1]
When who should come in there but her own dear brother,
Saying, "What makes fair Lucy mourn?"
2. "Oh I have a cause to grieve," she said,
And a reason for to mourn;
For the babe that lies in the cradle there asleep,
Dear brother it is your own."
3. He took her by the lily-white hand
And led her into the woods
And what he done there I never shall disclose
But he spilt fair Lucy's blood.
4. "O what is that upon your frock,
My son, come tell to me?"
"It is just one drop of fair Lucy's blood
And that you plain can see."
5. "O what will your father say to you,
My son, come tell to me?"
"I shall step my foot on board of a ship
And my face he never shall see."
6. "What will you do with your pretty little babe,
My son, come tell to me?"
"I shall leave them here at my father's command
For to keep him company."
7. "O what will you do with your houses and your lands
My son, come tell to me?"
"I shall leave them here at my father's command
For to set my children free."
8. "O what will you do with your pretty little wife
My son, come tell to me?"
"She shall step her foot on board of the ship
And sail away with me."
9. "O when will you return again?
My son, come tell to me?"
"When the sun and the moon meet on yonders green hills
And I'm sure that never will be."
1. "lament's alone," see Alice Slayton Sicily's version