In Boston Town- Rosie Hensley (NC) 1916 Sharp C
[Single stanza with music from Sharp and Campbell I, English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians I, 1917 and 1932. The 1932 notes follow.
R. Matteson 2016]
No. 48. In Seaport Town.
Texts without tunes :—Journal of American Folk-Lore, xx. 259; xxix 168. Cox's
Folk Songs of the South, p. 305 (see also further references).
Texts with tunes:—Journal of the Folk-Song Society, i. 160; ii. 42; v. 123. Miss
Broadwood's Traditional Songs and Carols, p. 28. Folk Songs from Somerset, No.
12 (also published in English Folk-Songs, Selected Edition, i. 4, and One Hundred
English Folk-Songs, p. 4). Journal of American Folk-Lore, xxxv. 359.
Sharp diary 1916 page 243. Friday 11 August 1916 - Alleghany
Directly after breakfast made for Carman called on Mrs Mandy Shelton and despite the flies and her husbands garrulous accompaniment got many songs. Then went on to Mrs Lizzie Shelton but got nothing, then looked in on the Hensley’s again. Found him on his back with bare feet in the verandah reading. Got me to explain significance of the dardanelles and questioned me about the Pyramids and the Panama Locks! He & the others gave me more songs. Miss Helen Fish stayed night with Miss Bacon. Was glad to see her.
C. In Boston Town. Sung by Mrs. ROSIE HENSLEY at Carmen, N. C, Aug. 11, 1916.
Hexatonic Mode 3, b.
In Boston town there lived a merchant,
Who had two sons and a daughter fair;
And amongst them all was the prettiest[1] boy,
Who was the daughter's dearest dear.
1. derived from "'prentice"?