It Rained- Schell (NC) 1933 Matteson
[My title. The name, Sir Hugh, is not found in this version collected by my grandfather, Maurice Matteson, and Melinger Henry in 1933. From Beech Mountain Folk-Songs and Ballads, 1936.
R. Matteson 2015]
[It Rained] Sir Hugh- Sung by Mrs. J. E. Schell of Banner Elk, NC; July 15, 1933.
It rained, it rained, it rained, it rained,
It rained all over the town.
Two little boys came out to play
For to toss their balls and play, play, play,
For to toss their balls and play.
At first they tossed it too high
And then they tossed it too low,
And then they tossed it in a vacant yard
Where no one was allowed to go, go, go,
Where no one was allowed to go.
A lady came out all dressed in silk,
All dressed in silk so fine,
"Come in, come in, my little boy,
And you shall have your ball, ball, ball,
And you shall have your ball."
At first she showed him a fine gold watch,
And then she showed him a chain,
And then she showed him a diamond ring,
Which fit his little hand so neat, neat, neat,
Which fit his hand so neat.
She pinned a napkin around his head,
She pinned it with a pin;
And in her hand was a carving knife-
She stabbed his little heart in, in, in,
She stabbed his little heart in.
"Oh, spare my life, Oh, spare my life,
Oh, spare my life," he cried;
"If ever I grow up to be a man,
I'll do some labor for you, you, you,
I'll do some labor for you."
"Please place the Testament at my head,
And the Bible at my feet;
If mother and father should call for me
Please tell them that I'm asleep, sleep, sleep,
Please tell them that I'm asleep.
"Please place the Testament at my feet
And the Bible at my head;
If any of my friends should call for me,
Please tell them that I'm dead, dead, dead,
Please tell them that I'm dead."