Lexington Murder- Pat Fry (NC) 1944 Abrams E; Brown K
[Generic title give by Abrams; recordings incomplete. From Abrams Collection recorded on September 2, 1944, Uncle Pat Fry performs his first variant of the 'Lexington Murder.'
One of four versions from that area usually title "Bloody Miller."
Also found as Brown K, titled 'The Wexford Girl' (contributors', not the singer's, title) with 6 stanzas of text. Contributed by Professors W. Amos Abrams and Gratis D. Williams of Boone, Watauga county, as obtained in the summer of 1945 from Pat Frye of East Bend, Yadkin county— concerning whom see the headnote to 'Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight'
R. Matteson 2016]
Lexington Murder- sung by Uncle Pat Frye of East Bend, NC on September 22, 1944.
1. One month[1] of May since Christmas last,
Was a very pleasant day
The devil he, persuaded me
to take her life away.
2 She promised to meet me at her sister's house.
'Twas eight o'clock that night.
So little did that creature think
I owed her any spite.
3 I asked her to take a walk with me,
It weren't but a little ways,
So all amount and little agree
And 'p'int[2] the wedding day.
4 I drew a stake all out a fence,
I struck her in the face.
'Oh Lord, oh Lord, don't murder me;
I am not fitten to die!'
5 While she fell on her bended knees
To wash her sins away,
I tuk her by the hair of the head
And drug her to some river near.
6 I drug her to some river near,
I left her body there.
Straight to the miller's hall I run
And the miller was in a maze.
* * * *
7. How is it now that this warm night[3]
That you are pale as death,
What blood is this on your trembling hands
Likewise upon your clothes?
I answered them immediate-lie
"Was bleeding out the nose."
* * * *
1. recording starts here
2. appoint
3. from second recording