Mary Ellen- Henson (KY) 1917 Sharp M
[My title. Single stanza From English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, 1932 Sharp/Karpeles. Notes from the 1932 edition follow. An excerpt from Sharp's diary is given.
R. Matteson 2015]
No. 24. Barbara Allen.
Texts without tunes -.—Child's English and Scottish Popular Ballads, No. 84. Gavin Greig's Folk-Song of the North-East, ii, arts. 165 and 166. Ashton's Century of Ballads, p. 173. Miss Burne's Shropshire Folk-Lore, p. 543. Garret's Merrie Book of Garlands, vol. ii. A. Williams's Folk Songs of the Upper Thames, pp. 204 and 206. D. Scarborough's On the Trail of Negro Folk Songs, p. 59. Journal of American Folk-Lore, xix. 285 ; xx. 250; xxii. 63 ; xxviii. 144; xxix. 161.
Texts with tunes :—Christie's Traditional Ballad Airs, I. 87 and 89. Journal of the Folk-Song Society, 111 and 265; ii. 15 and 80. Kidson's Traditional Tunes, P- 37- Journal of the Irish Folk-Song Society, i. 45. Chappel's Popular Music of the Olden Times, ii. 538. Kidston's Garland of English Folk Songs, p. 74. Joyce's Ancient Irish Music, p. 79. Rimbault's Musical Illustrations of Bishop Percy's Reliques, No. 53. Gavin Greig's Last Leaves, No. 32. Folk Songs from Somerset, No. 22 (also published in English Folk Songs, Selected Edition, i. 20, and One Hundred English Folk-Songs, p. 20). Thomson's Scottish Songs, iii. 29. Cox's Folk Songs of the South, pp. 96 and 523. Reed Smith's South Carolina Ballads, p. 129. W. R. Mackenzie's Ballads and Sea Songs of Nova Scotia, No. 9. Wyman and Brockway's Lonesome Tunes} p. 1. Journal of American Folk-Lore, vi. 132 ; xxii. 74 (tune only); xxxv. 343 ; xxxix. 97 and 211. Musical Quarterly, January 1916, p. 20 (tune only). British Ballads from Maine, p. 195. Davis's
Traditional Ballads of Virginia, pp. 302 and 577. McGill's Folk Songs of the Kentucky Mountains, p. 40. Sandburg's American Songbag, p. 57.
Sharp diary 1917 page 137. Wednesday 9 May 1917 - Barbourville
In the morning we went round to rout out a Mrs Delie Knuckles. After going to her former residence (and having a formal visit with her former hostess) we struck her present dwelling. Wouldn’t sing then — too busy, washing — but promised to do so tomorrow at 5. Then on to a Mr Ben Henson, a nice good-looking farmer chap of about 35, who by mere chance happened to be home. He gave me a beautiful version of B[arbara] Allen & promised to sing tomorrow night after dinner. At 12.30 we went again to the Broughton-cum-Sloan group and got several more good songs. On return found a lot of proofs awaiting me — only 2nd or 3rd proofs alas! — After a rest & some tea, did the proofs and posted them myself at 5 p.m. special delivery. At 6 went to the Franklin’s to dinner. Found them very friendly & hospitable. Rather like a slightly older & more sophisticated version of Storey & his wife of Mt Smokey! They entertained us pleasantly and it was a nice evening. But I am very tired & feel far from well.
M. [Mary Ellen] Sung by MR. BEN HENSON at Barbourville, Knox Co., Ky., May 9, 1917
Pentatonic. Mode 2.
One day, one day, in the month of May,
When the red-buds they were swellin'
I fell in love with a pretty, little girl;
And her name be Mary Ellen.