Little Harry Hughes- (NY) 1934 James Joyce's book
[The song "Little Harry Hughes", sung by Stephen in Joyce's chapter 17, Ithaca, appears in his book, Ulysses, p. 675. It's been reported online that Joyce took his version from Child B (Thomas Percy's Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Vol 1). Percy's ballad begins "The rain runs down". However, it seem unlikely and resembles other US versions. The title bears resemblance to Newell's version, Child N of 1883 also from NY.
R. Matteson 2015]
Little Harry Hughes -from Ulysses, p. 675 by James Joyce, 1934.
Little Harry Hughes and his schoolfellows all
Went out for to play ball
And the very first ball little Harry Hughes played
He drove it o'er the Jew's garden wall.
And the very second ball little Harry Hughes played
He broke the Jew's windows all.
Then out there came the Jew's daughter
And she all dressed in green.
`Come back, come back, you pretty little boy,
And play your ball again.'
I can't come back and I won't come back
Without my schoolfellows all,
For if my master he did hear
He'd make it a sorry ball.'
She took him by the lily-white hand
And led him along the hall
Until she led him to a room
Where none could hear him call.
She took a penknife out of her pocket
And cut off his little head,
And now he'll play his ball no more
For he lies among the dead.