The Little Drownded Girl- Patterson Whetmore (KY) 1932
[From the 1961 book, The Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles, w/music. Niles learned from this version Patterson Whetmore, in 1932 on the steps of the Hatcher Hotel in Pikeville, Ky. Whetmore was a fiddler and dance caller.
R .Matteson 2011]
The Little Drownded Girl
(Niles No. 7 C)
It was in front of the Hatcher Hotel in Pikeville, Ky., and the date was July 16, 1932, and the singer was named Pat (Patterson) Whetmore, and the ballad was a very interesting version of "The Twa Sisters." As soon as he began to sing, I realized that he must have had some form of musical experience. He sang accurately, and though his tune was not overly original, it was graceful and he sang it very charmingly.
THE LITTLE DROWNDED GIRL- Patterson Whetmore (KY) 1932; collected Niles
1. Derry derry down and around the piney tree,
I know a lord who live by the Northern Sea,
He had daughters one, two three,
Derry derry down and around the piney tree.
Derry down and around the old piney tree,
Sister fish me out of the raging sea,
You may have my own true lover-ee,
Derry derry down and around the piney tree.
Derry down and around the old piney tree.
She did swim around so heartily,
Until she sank and she did drowndery,
Derry derry down and around the piney tree.
Derry down and around the old piney tree
She was stripped to her bare body,
For her gold and her watches and her fee,
Derry derry down and around the piney tree.
Derry down and around the old piney tree
They hanged the sister and the miller-ee.
On a scaffold 'side of the deep blue sea,
Derry derry down and around the piney tree.