Bluegrass Messengers

O Judges- Schell (NC) 1933 Matteson

[From Beech Mountain Folk-Songs and Ballads; Matteson/Henry 1936. This is the second version collected by my grandfather (see Endurance- Hicks, NC 1936 which is similar to The Highwayman) and Henry. This is unusual because it has "O judges" cf. Child A.

R. Matteson 2012, 2015]

O Judges- Sung by Mrs. J. E. Schell of Banner Elk, NC, August 1, 1933 Collected Maurice Matteson, Melinger Henry.

"O judges, O judges, just hold your ropes,
A little, little while;
For yonder comes my father so dear, 
He's come so many a mile!"

"O father, O father, have you brought me gold,
Or money to set me free?
Or have you come for to see me hung
On yonder sorrowful tree?"

"O son, O son, I've brought you no gold,
Nor money to set you free;
Rut I have come for to see you hung
On yonder sorrowful tree."

"O judges, O judges, just hold your ropes
A little, little while,
For yonder comes my mother so dear,
She's come so many a mile!

"O mother, O mother, have you brought me gold,
Or money to set me free?
Or have you come to see me hung
On yonder sorrowful tree?"

"O son, O son, I've brought you no gold,
Nor money to set you free;
But I have come for to see you hung
On yonder sorrowful tree."

"O judges, O judges, just hold your ropes,
A little, little while,
For yonder comes my sister so dear,
She's come so many a mile!

"O sister, O sister, have you brought me gold,
Or money to set me free?
Or have you come to see me hung
On yonder sorrowful tree?"

"O brother, O brother, I've brought you no gold
Nor money to set you free;
But I have come for to see you hung
On yonder sorrowful tree."

"O judges, O judges, just hold your ropes
A little, little while,
For yonder comes my brother so dear,
He's come so many a mile!

"O brother, O brother, have you brought me gold,
Or money to set me free?
Or have you come for to see me hung
On yonder sorrowful tree?"

"O brother, O brother, I've brought you no gold;
Nor money to set you free;
But I have come for to see you hung
On yonder sorrowful tree."

"O judges, O judges, just hold your ropes
A little, little while,
For yonder comes my true love so dear,
She's come so many a mile!

"O true love, O true love, have you brought me gold
And money to set me free?
Or have you come for to see me hung
On yonder sorrowful tree?"

"O sweetheart, O sweetheart, I've brought you gold,
And money to set you free;
But I have not come for to see you hung
On yonder sorrowful tree."