Lord Daniel's Wife- Green (KY) 1910 Combs
[From Cox; Folk Songs of the South; 1925, sent from Combs.
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
Lord Daniel's Wife- From Professor J. H. Combs, West Virginia University, April 12, 1924, the editor (Cox, Folk-Songs of the South) received the following version, "Sung by Mrs. Margaret Green, Knott County, Kentucky, and called "Lord Daniel's Wife" in 1910.
1 The first came down all dressed in red;
The next came down in green;
The next came down Lord Daniel's wife,
She's as fine as any queen, queen,
She's as fine as any queen.
2 "Come and go home with me, little Gayly[3],
Come and go home with me to-night;
For I know by the rings on your fingers
You are Lord Daniel's wife, wife," etc.
3 A little foot-spade[1] was standing there,
A-hearing all they say;
He made a vow Lord Daniel should know
Before the break of day.
4 He had but sixteen miles to go,
And ten of them he run;
He run till he came to a broken-down bridge,
He held his breath and swum.
5 He swum till he came where grass grows green,
He turned to heels and run;
He run till he came to Lord Daniel's gate,
He rattled those bells and rung.
6 "If this be false you bring to me,
And I believe it to be,
I'll build a gallows just for you,
And hangen you shall be."
7 "If this be false I bring to you,
As you believe it to be,
You need not build the gallows for me,
Just hang me on a tree."
8 He travelled over hills and valleys,
Till he came to his staff stand still; [2]
He placed his bugle-horn to his mouth,
And blew most loud and shrill.
9 He took little Gayly[3] by the hand
And led her through the hall;
He drew his sword and cut off her head,
And kicked it against the wall.
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1. Error for foot-page.
2. A corrupt line.
3. My footnote. In most cases this is "gay lady" and not a proper name as implied.