In Seaport Town- Stella Shelton (NC) 1916 Sharp A
[From Sharp and Campbell I, English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians I, 1917 and 1932. The 1932 notes follow. Stella Shelton is likely Sol (Solomon) Shelton's daughter (see: diary below). Sol had the MS of a shorter version in his possession at that time. cf. Lonesome Valley- Sol Shelton (NC) 1916 Sharp MS.
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 230. Saturday 29 July 1916 - White Rock:
Then Miss F returned home and after a picnic lunch, we then called on Mr and Mrs Sol Shelton & family — a most delightful lot of people. Here I got 3 or 4 more songs including an interesting variant of Bruton Town, and a fine form of Wife of Usher’s Well. Walked home beaming with pleasure after so successful a day — with 9 good songs as a result of my first 2 day’s work.
In Seaport Town- Sung by Miss STELLA SHELTON at Alleghany, N. C, July 29, 1916"
Mode 3, b (no 6th).
1. In Seaport town there lived a merchant,
He had three sons and a daughter dear,
And among them all was the prettiest[1] boy,
He was the daughter's dearest dear.
2 One evening late they were in the room courting.
Her oldest brother perchance did hear;
He went and told his other brothers:
Let's deprive her of her dearest dear.
3 They rose up early the next morning,
A game of hunting for to go;
And upon this young man they both insisted
For him to go along with them.
4 They wandered over the hills and mountains
And through a many of a place unknown,
Till at last they came to a lonesome valley
And there they killed him dead alone.
5 When they return back the next evening,
Their sister ask for the servant man.
Saying: We lost him on a game of hunting;
No more of him it's could we find.
6 While she lie on her bedside slumbering,
The servant man did appear to her,
Saying: Your brother killed me rough and cruel
All wallowed in a score of blood.
7 She rose up early the next morning;
She dressed herself in a rich array,
Saying : I'll go and find my best beloved
All wallowed in a score of blood.
8 She wandered over the hills and mountains
And through a many of a place unknown,
Till at last she came to the lonesome valley,
And there she found him dead alone.
9 Saying: Your eyes look like some bloody butcher,
Your eyes look like some salt or brine.
She kissed his cold, cold lips and, crying,
Said: You are the darling bosom friend of mine.
10 Since my brothers been so cruel
As to force your sweet love away,
One grave shall preserve us both together,
As long as I have breath I will stay with you.
11 When she return back the next evening,
Her brothers ask her where she'd been.
O hold your tongue, you deceitful villains,
For one alone you both shall hang.
12 Her brothers then they came convicted
To jump in a boat and a-finally leave.
The wind did blow and the waves came o'er them;
They made their graves in the deep blue sea.
1 'prentice boy