My Sweet William- (NC) pre1900 Eames
[From The Young Woman's Journal, Volume 11, dated 1900 by Mrs. Henry Purmort Eames. Notes by an editor follow. The collector, Henry Eames (1872-1950), was director of Piano at University of Nebraska (1898), married Clara Boone Hansborough, author of this article. Apparently this is an African-American version-- as written in dialect. It appears this should date earlier than 1898 although no source is given,
R. Matteson 2017]
THE FOLK SONGS OF AMERICA.
Mrs. Henry Purmort Eames.
[EDITORIAL NOTE. The following was read at the Nebraska State Federation of Clubs, recently held at Lincoln,
by Mrs. Henry Purmort
They have received free—, Eames, wife of the famous musician now in the Chair of Music at the Nebraska State University. The lecture was illustrated by both piano and the sweet, vibrant voice of Mrs. Eames herself, and created a most profound and delightful impression. The songs were collected and arranged by Prof. Eames, who has spent much time in developing this altogether new and fascinating branch of musical study.]
It is a North Carolina song:
“MY SWEET WILLIAM."
Oh! captain, captain, tell me true,
Does my sweet Willyum sail with you?
Oh! captain, captain, tell me true,
Is my sweet Willyum with the gallant crew?
Oh no! fair maid, he is not heah,
He's drownded in some deep, I feah,
The night was dark, and the winds blewed high,
And I lost the sight of my sailor-boy.
She wrung’d her hands, she tored her ha‘ah,
Jest like-a-fair maid, all in despa-ah!
She wrung’d her hands, she tored her ha-ah,
Crying, Oh! my haht is in despa’ah.
She went home to write a song:
She wrote it true, she wrote it long;
On every word she dropped a teah.
On every line cried. "Oh, my deah."
Eight lawyers they came a-riding by,
And saw her a-hangin' on a limb so high,
They took a axe and cut her down.
An' on her bress' these words was foun':
Go dig my grave both wide and deep;
Place a marble toom at my head an' feet:
An' on my breash a turtle duv,
To inform this worl' I died fur lov.