John and William-(Mass.) 1884 Newell; Child G a
[From English and Scottish Popular Ballads; Volume 2, 1884. It's hard to say when G a. was collected but we know Newell provided it to Child and it was published in 1884 (Barry dates it 1882; BBM). This is one of the few US versions that uses the "Lord Lovell" form. The second version G b. (from a child in New York) was dated 1850.
In Child's footnotes he says:
1. Mr. Newell says: "I have heard it sung at a picnic, by a whole earful of little girls. The melody is pretty. These children were of the poorest class."
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
G. a. 'John and William,' taken down from the singing of little girls in South Boston.
1 As John and William were coming home one day,
One Saturday afternoon,
Says John to William, Come and try a fight,
Or will you throw a stone?
Or will you come down to yonder, yonder town
Where the maids are all playing ball, ball, ball,
Where the maids are all playing ball?
2 Says William to John, I will not try a fight,
Nor will I throw a stone,
Nor will I come down to yonder town,
Where the maids are all playing ball.
3 So John took out of his pocket
A knife both long and sharp,
And stuck it through his brother's heart,
And the blood came pouring down.
4 Says John to William, Take off thy shirt,
And tear it from gore to gore,
And wrap it round your bleeding heart,
And the blood will pour no more.'
5 So John took off his shirt,
And tore it from gore to gore,
And wrapped it round his bleeding heart,
And the blood came pouring more.
6 'What shall I tell your dear father,
When I go home to-night?'
'You'll tell him I'm dead and in my grave,
For the truth must be told.'
7 'What shall I tell your dear mother,
When I go home to-night?'
'You'll tell her I'm dead and in my grave,
For the truth must be told.'
8 'How came this blood upon your knife?
My son, come tell to me;'
'It is the blood of a rabbit I have killed,
O mother, pardon me.'
9 'The blood of a rabbit couldn't be so pure,
My son, come tell to me:'
'It is the blood of a squirrel I have killed,
O mother, pardon me.'
10 'The blood of a squirrel couldn't be so pure,
My son, come tell to me:'
'It is the blood of a brother I have killed,
O mother, pardon me.'