Little Mathagroe- (NC) c.1940 Abrams
[No date or informant given. From W. Amos Abrams Folksong Collection; “Little Mathagroe,” Appalachian State University Digital Collections.
This MS is found in the Abrams collection; I'm guessing it's at least from 1940 or older.
R. Matteson 2015]
“Little Mathagroe.”
Hello boys, hello girls[1]
The very first day of the year,
The first come down was a gaily bride,
And the other was a gaily girl.
She passed by and he passed by,
And she cast her eyes on him,
Saying: come along Little Massagroe
A purpose for to lie.[2]
"Very willing I am to go with you,
very willing I am to lie,
But I know you are Lord Daniel's wife,
By the rings that you wear.
If I am Lord Daniel's wife,
Lord Daniel haint at home,
He's gone away to Nebraska,
There's no one there to see.[3]
"What news what news, my little foot-page,
[text upcoming]
1. This has been derived from "High Holy" and it appears "To my hi, to my hi, to my hi holy" in the Brown Collection.
2. lie in bed- that it.
3. the foot-page overhearing and then traveling to tell Lord Daniel stanzas are missing