Loving Henery
[This is a version of Child No. 68, Young Hunting. This ballad was recorded by early country musicians Dick Justice (Henry Lee, 1929), Jess Young's Tennesse Band (Lovin' Henry, 1929) and Jimmie Tarlton (Lowe Bonnie, 1930). Some versions are mixed with "The False Young Man/False True Love" versions (Lunsford 1929).
R. Matteson 2014]
LOVING HENERY
"Come in, come in, loving Henery," she said,
"Come in, stay all night with me.
And it is these costly jewels I'll pull off,
And I'll give them all to thee."
I couldn't come in, [1]
And stay all night with you.
For the girl I left in Arkansas land,
Thinks I'm a long time coming home."
They stood all by the pathway,
A-kissing, oh, so sweet.
With a little pen knife she held in her hand,
She pierced Henery to the heart.
"Live on, live on, loving Henery,
Live on forever more.
And the girl you left in Arkansas land,
Think [you're] a long time coming home."
"Oh its how can I live anymore,
When my own heart blood
Is trickling at my feet,
And breath is very short?
Some take him by the lily-white hand
Some take him by the feet.
They carried him down to the riverside,
And they plunged him into the deep.
"Lie there, lie there Loving Henery," she said,
"Lie there, till I tell you to rise,
And the girl you left in Arkansas land,
Think [you're] a long time coming home."
"Come down, come down, little parrot bird," [she said,]
"Come down and settle on my thumb.
And your cage it shall be of yellow and gold bark,
And the doors of ivory."
"I can't come down, [2]
[And] settle on your thumb,
For you know you murdered your own true love,
And you know you might murder me."
1. I couldn't come in, [and I won't come in],
2. I can't come down, [and I won't come down],