Kind Sir, I See You've Come Again- Robbins (NC) 1922 Brown A
[Brown Collection Volume 3, 1952 Edited Belden and all. The Brown notes follow,
R. Matteson 2017]
3. The Courting Cage
So called in the Ozarks, according to Vance Randolph (OASPS 216-19), though he confesses that he does not know what a courting cage is (in OFS iii 361-3. where he gives a Missouri version, he suggests that it is a corruption of "court engaged"). In Virginia it is called 'The Courting Case' (SharpK 11 249-51) or 'Kind Sir' (SCSM 305-6) or 'The Drunkard's Courtship' (FSV 232-4). Chappell calls his North Carolina version (FSRA 199-200) 'The Drunkard's Courtship.' It has been found also in Mississippi (FSM 168-9), Indiana (SFLQ v 182-3). and Michigan (BSSM 417-19).
A. 'Kind Sir, I See You've Come Again.' Taken from Miss Jewel Robbins of Pekin, Montgomery county, in 1922.
1. "Kind Sir, I see you've come again,
Pray tell me what it's for.
For when we parted on yonders hill
I told you to come no more, more, more,
I told you to come no more."
(repeat thus the last line of each stanza)
2. 'Oh, Miss, I fall down at your feet,
Your mercy I implore;
If one to me he granted not
I'm lost for evermore.'
3. 'Oh, Sir, I know just what you want;
You want to take me in.
And if I will agree to marry you
You'll drink and gamble again.'
4. 'Oh, Miss, it's a thing I never did do
And I never did think 'twas right.
If you'll agree to marry me
I'll never lie out one night.'
5. 'Oh, Sir, I think you're might bold
To make that over again;
For do you think I'm simple enough
To marry a barrel o' gin?
6. 'Kind Sir, I think you'd better go,
Your staying here is vain;
You're only troubling me very much
And giving yourself great pain.'
7. 'Oh, Miss, I have a very fine horse —
He paces like the tide —
That you may have at your command
Whenever you choose to ride.'
8. 'Oh, sir, I know your very line horse;
He paces like a tide.
I know his master loves to drink,
And I can't he his bride.'
9. 'Oh, miss, I have a very fine house
And also very fine yards.'
'But who will stay with me at night
When you are playing cards?'
10. 'Oh, miss. I have a very fine orchard
And also very fine fruit
That you can have at your command
If you will he my bride.'
11. 'Oh, sir, I know your very fine orchard
And also very fine fruit;
But when I come in and turn you out
You know a hog- will root.'
12 'Oh, miss, you are a hard old jade
And very hard to please[1];
And some cold night when you're alone
I hope to God you'll freeze!'
1. The manuscript has here "freeze," no doubt by anticipation of the line below.