Lord Daniel- Maggard (KY) 1934 Thomas REC
[From AFS June, 1934 (recorded in Ashland Kentucky by Jean Thomas), also on Kentucky Mountain Music Part 5. Green Maggard was singing in the 1930s, there's not much info about him.
R. Matteson 2015]
Lord Daniel- Sung by Green Maggard with guitar accompaniment. [quick transcription by Richard Matteson, after a couple listenings-- the stanza after 14 describing how she likes Matty Groves more than Lord Daniel, is missing- not sung.]
1. The first come down was dressed in red,
The next was dressed in green,
The next come down--- was a pretty fair miss,
As pretty as any queen.
2. "Little Matthy standing by my side
Come along and go with me."
"I know you are--- Lord Daniel's wife
By the ring on your right hand."
3. "It makes no difference whose wife I am
Or the ring on my right hand
My husband is--- not at home,
He's in some distant land."
4. The page[1] was standing right closeby
And heard every word was said,
And when he came--- before daylight,
Lord Daniel will know what [was] said.
5 He swam till he came to the old Green Ridge
Then he sprang to his feet and run
And when he came-- [to] Lord Daniel's house
Daniel's there when he rung.
6. Oh tell me, tell me, tel me sir
What was being done?"
"Your wife's in bed-- with another man
Their hearts the same as one
7. Little Matthy rose with all his clothes
I guess I better go
Your husband is--- coming home,
I heard his bugle blow.
8. Lay down, lay down and get some sleep
Lay down lay down I say,
That's only father's shepherds you hear
A-calling to his sheep
9. They lay there and cuddled and kissed.[2]
And went back to sleep,
And when they woke in broad daylight,
Lord Daniel [was] at their feet.
10. "Oh give me chance, oh give me a chance
Oh give me a chance for life,
You're standing there with swords by your side
And me not as much as a knife
11. "These two broadsword by my side
Cost me in my purse
You shall take ---the best of them,
And I shall take the worst."
12. "You may take the very first lick
But use it like a man
I will take --- the very next lick,
I'll kill you if I can."
13. Little Matthy got the very first lick
It made him awful sore;
Lord Daniel got ---the very next lick
And threw him in the floor.
14. He took by her lily-white hand
And put her on his right knee
Which of the men do you like best
Little Matthy Groves or me?
15. He took her by her lily-white hand
And led her in the hall,
He put a thirty-eight to her heart,
She fell to the special ball.
16. Go dig my grave on yonder hill
Dig it [both] wide and deep
Put little Matthy by my side,
Lord Daniel at my feet. [3]
1 sings, "pat"
2. not clear
3. Lord Daniel is saying this so it should be:
Put Lady Daniel by my side
Little Mathy by my feet.