If I Take Off My Silken Stay- Sung by Pearl Jacobs Borusky, July 13, 1938
[This variant is missing the first stanzas. R. Matteson 2011]
Taken from: Kentucky Folksong in Northern Wisconsin by Asher E. Treat
The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 52, No. 203 (Jan. - Mar., 1939), pp. 1-51
16. IF I TAKE OFF MY SILKEN STAY
Sung by Pearl Jacobs Borusky, July 13, 1938. Cf. Sharp, Earl Brand; Young Hunting; Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight. The horn-like character of the melody is unusual, though nothing in the singing of it suggested that it was recognized as such.
1. If I take off my silken stay,
And deliver it unto thee . . . . . . ,
A naked woman to see.
2. She grabbed him round the middle so small
And tumbled him into the sea.
3. "Lie there, lie there, lie there, young man!
Lie there, lie there!" said she.
"If six fair ladies you have drownded here
The seventh one has drownded thee."
4. She jumped upon her milk-white steed
And led the dappled-gray,
And came unto her father's house
Three hours before it was day.
5. "O, where have you been, my pretty fair maid?
O, where have you been, I pray?
I was afraid some ruffian had stold you, my dear,
You tarried so long away."