John of Hazelgreen- Raspbury (OK) 1898 Moore B
[From Ballads and Songs from the Southwest by Ethel and Chancey O. Moore; 1964. Rasbury probably learned this ballad by 1880 since she learned it from her father. I put the date at 1898 when she moved from Alabama. This is essentially an Alabama version and could be titled "Young John of Hazelgreen" which is similar to the title of the Delorme version (Flanders) from NY. The texts are different however.
R. Matteson 2014]
John of Hazelgreen- sung by Mrs. Mary Raspbury, Kinta who was born in Alabama in 1868 and came to Indian Territory in 1898. She sings the songs of her father, who was born in Alabama.
As I walked out one May morning
To see if the leaves had come,
I heard a sweet damsel weeping low,
As though her love had gone.
Oh, it was for her own true love,
Young John of Hazelgreen.
"What bothers you, my pretty fair maid,
Why do you weep and mourn?
Is it for your own true love,
Who lately has gone?"
"Oh, it is for my own true love,
Young John of Hazelgreen."
"Oh, what does young John have, my dear,
That other men have not?
Is he squire or is he gentleman,
And why has he forgot?"
She only sighed and said,
"Young John of Hazelgreen."
"Oh, leave your own true love alone
And go along with me.
I'll marry you to my oldest son;
You'll be a gay lady."
The more she wept, the more she moaned
For John of Hazelgreen.
He's taken her by the lily-white hand,
He's led her through the town;
He's bought her wedding things,
He's bought her wedding gown.
The more she wept, the more she moaned
For John of Hazelgreen.
Young Hazelgreen ran hastily
To meet his father dear;
He took the pretty fair maid in his arms
And kissed away her tears.
And she ceased to weep and mourn
For John of Hazelgreen.