Bluegrass Messengers

Madam, I Have Gold and Silver- Henry Gerlach (NY) c. 1919

[From FOLKWAYS RECORDS Album # FH 5311, 1963;  Folkways Records & Service Corp., 121 w. 47th st. NYC USA
NEW YORK STATE SONGS AND BALLADS: FOLKSONGS OF THE CATSKILLS sung by Barbara Moncure with Harry Siemsen. Notes follow.

The last three stanzas are from a different song.

R. Matteson 2017]

SIDE II, Band 3: MADAM, I HAVE GOLD AND SILVER
From Henry "Dutch" Gerlach who taught it before he died, during the World War I influenza epidemic, to Mr. Siemsen. Gerlach was born in 1881 or 1882 in the Town of Ulster and 1ived there all his life on a hill farm. This courting dialog is actually a composite of well-known verses.

"Madam, I Have Gold and Silver," c. 1919. From Henry "Dutch" Gerlach who taught it before he died, during the World War I influenza epidemic, to Mr. Siemsen. 1963 Folkways Records "New York State Songs and Ballads."

There she stands, a lovely creature,
Who she is, I do not know:
I will ask her for to marry,
Let her answer, yes or no.

Madam, I have gold and silver,
Madam, I have a house and land:
Madam, I have a ship on the ocean,
All of these at they command.

What care I for your gold and silver,
What care I for your house and land,
What care I for your ship on the ocean,
All I want is a nice young man.

Oh! I know!
For an old man he is old,
An old man he is gray,
A young man's heart is full of love,
Get away, old man, get away.

I wanna marry a young man:
With curly hair on his head;
I don't want an old man,
That can't climb into bed.

For an old man he is old,
An old man he is gray:
A young man's heart is fulla love,
Get away, old man, get away!