Little Sir Hugh- J. Maples (TN) 1917 Sharp MS; Bronson 19
[Sharp's title, referred to by Sharp in his diary. The title is not found in the text but I'm leaving it. One stanza fragment (last stanza) from Sharp MSS., 3579/. His diary notes follow. Sharp C is a complete version collected from a Mr. Maples who may be a relative since they are also from the same area in Tennessee.
R. Matteson 2015]
Cecil Sharp Diary 1917 (1917/p117)
Sharp diary 1917 page 117. Thursday 19 April 1917 - Mount Smokey Academy
Maud & Storey buggied while I walked to Mr and Mrs Maples, got a version of Little Sir Hugh but only one verse of the text. Called on Hornby’s but got nothing & returned to lunch. After lunch went down Bird’s creek after "Sir Hugh" and eventually got a fairly full version from Mr Luther Campbell and some more songs in Webb’s Creek from Mrs King etc. After dinner I played, Maud and I sang, & Maud danced Jockey, and None so Pretty, to an audience consisting of Mr & Mrs Storey, two young men who work on the farm, and Myrtle a servant who is also a student in the school. This dancing, singing etc we did last night also and this was a repetition by request. I am not feeling too well, partly perhaps the intense heat, or the walking, or the iron water or the food or a combination of all! Have a cough and a sore chest and a good deal of rheumatism — perhaps the altitude is mainly responsible.
Little Sir Hugh ("Sir Hugh") - Sung by Miss Julia Maples, Sevier County, Tenn., April 19, 1917.
Go bury my Bible at my head,
My hymn book at my feet,
And if all the scholars ask about me,
Pray tell them I'm asleep, sleep,
Pray tell them I'm asleep.