I Admire a Black Eyed Man- Fish (NH) 1943 Flanders
[From: D20B an archival cassette dub in the Helen Hartness Flanders Ballad Collection at Middlebury College Special Collections & Archives.
R. Matteson 2017]
"I Admire a Black Eyed Man," vocal performance by Lena Bourne Fish at East Jaffrey (New Hampshire), dated 08-26-1943. Recorded by Helen Flanders. Listen: https://archive.org/details/HHFBC_tapes_D20B [starts about 21:30].
Madam, I have come a-courting
And your favor I hope to gain,
If you'll kindly entertain me,
Maybe I will come again.
CHORUS: Ladies go you hair up,
Hair up, hair up,
Ladies go you hair up,
Prim and fine.
Madam, I am bold and handsome,
I have money houses and land,
If you'll be my wife, my darling,
All of this is at your command.
CHORUS
I do not want your gold and silver,
Nor your fortune, houses and land,
Your fine features do not lure me
For I admire a black-eyed man.
CHORUS
A black-eyed man I do admire,
Raven locks I do adore,
A black-eyed man I'll surely marry,
Whether he is rich or poor.
CHORUS
So your gold and silver tinkling
All your fortune, houses and land
But I speaks of fiery whiskers,
I will choose a black-eyed man.
CHORUS
Gold will buy me silks and satins,
I could dress like a lady grand,
But I prefer to this a [ ]
With a charming black-eyed man.
CHORUS: