How Came That Blood? (Edward)- Shook (NC) 1917 Sharp E
[My title. From English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians by Sharp/Karpeles I, 1932, with music. According to Sharp's notes: Mrs. Shook said that the name of the brother was Edward and that this line was sometimes sung, 'It is the blood of Edward.' Even though this is the wrong (murdered) brother, the association of Edward has rarely been made, Cf. Randolph C, which used the name once.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
[How Came That Blood?]- Sung by Mrs. Meg Shook at Clyde, Haywood Co., N.C., Aug. 2, 1917
1 How came that blood on the point of your knife?
My son, come tell to me.
It is the blood of my old coon dog
That chased the fox for me, me, me,
That chased the fox for me.
2 How come that blood, etc.
It is the blood of that old horse
That ploughed that field for me, etc.
3 How come that blood, etc.
It is the blood of one of my brothers'
Which fell out with me, etc.
4 What did you fall out about?
My son, etc.
We fell out about a holly-bush
That would have made a tree, etc.
5 What will you do when your father comes home?
I'll put my foot in a bunkum boat
And sail across the sea.
6 What will you do with your dear little wife?
I'll put her foot in a bunkum[1] boat
And sail across the sea.
7 What will you do with your dear little babe?
I'll leave it here in this lone world
To dandle on your knee.
8 And what will you do with your old gobbler?
I'll leave it here with you when I'm gone
To gobble after me.
1. oaken