My Confession- Mrs. Vaughan (IN) 1935 Brewster
[From: Brewster's "Ballads and Songs of Indiana; Indiana University Publications, Folklore Series," 1940.
R. Matteson 2016]
36 THE WEXFORD GIRL (THE CRUEL MILLER)
Only one Indiana text of this ballad has been found, the title being given as "My Confession." Belden notes that the song is "a reduction" of the English broadside "The Berkshire Tragedy, or, The Wittam Miller." In the early part of the nineteenth century appeared a condensed American version of "The Wittam Miller," under the title of "The Lexington Miller."
For references and other American versions, see Cox, p. 311; Dobie, Texas and Southwestern Lore, p. 213; Greenleaf and Mansfield, p. 119; Hudson, Folksongs, p. 141; Journal, XXV, 11; XLV, 126; Mackenzie, Ballads, p. 293; Payne, "Songs and Ballads "Grave and Gay" (PTFLS, VI, 213); Shearin and Combs, pp. 13, 28; Neely, Tales and Songs of Southern Illinois, p. 150; Henry, Folk-Songs from the Southern Highlands, p. 214; Scarborough, Song Catcher, p. 160.
"My Confession." Contributed by Miss Sylvia Vaughan, of Oakland City, Indiana. Gibson County. Secured from her mother, Mrs. Hiram Vaughan. March 5, 1935.
1. My parents brought me up
And provided for me well;
They brought me to Lexington
And placed me in the mill.
2. And there I saw a pretty fair maid;
She pleased me in my mind.
I promised her I would marry her
If with me she would comply.
3. At length I saw another one
That pleased me fully as well;
The devil put it in my head
My first true-love to kill.
4. I went to her sister's house
At eight o'clock at night;
But little did this poor girl think
That I owed her any spite.
5. I asked her to walk with me,
Just walk a little way,
That she and I might both agree
Upon our wedding day.
6. I took her by the little white hand
And led her to the place;
I drew a stick from off the fence
And struck her in the face.
7. She fell on her bended knees
And did for mercy cry:
"O pity me, kind sir,
For I am not fit to die!"
8. I paid no heed to what she said,
But only struck her more,
Until I had taken her sweet life
Which I could ne'er restore.
9. I took her by the coal-black hair;
To cover up my sin
I dragged her to the riverside
And there I plunged her in.
10. The next day she was sought for,
But nowhere could be found,
While I in my chamber..........
In my chamber bound.
11. Her sister swore against me;
She said there was no doubt
But that I had taken her sweet life;
She seen me lead her out.
12. I confess that I am guilty;
I tell to the world the truth.
Farewell to lovely Anna,
I die for killing Ruth.
13. So the people gathered around me
To see me depart this life;
Farewell to lovely Anna,
My own intended wife!