Oh Mary Dear- P. Jacobs Borusky (KY-WS) 1909 REC
[From: Recording at Wisconsin Folksong Collection online. Also Kentucky Folksong in Northern Wisconsin by Asher E. Treat; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 52, No. 203 (Jan. - Mar., 1939), pp. 1-51 (see bottom of this page).
This is her grandmothers version (Mrs. Ollie Jacobs) learned from her father around 1909. I'm guessing he knew it long before 1906 when they moved to Wisconsin.
See notes for Ollie Jacobs.
R. Matteson 2016]
A version “Oh Mary dear, go ask your mother” came to northern Wisconsin from Kentucky with the Jacobs Family at the turn of the century. Recordings were made from the singing of Mrs. Ollie Jacobs (LC No. 4983) and of her daughter, Mrs. Pearl Jacobs Borusky (LC No. 4984).
Oh Mary Dear- Sung by Mrs. Pearl Jacobs Borusky, age 40, recorded in Pearson, Wisconsin 1941. Grandma learned this when a little girl at school, Pearl from her father. Cf. Mrs Ollie Jacobs "Oh Mary Dear"
Listen: http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/WiscFolkSong/data/audio/MmBib/WiscFolkSong/500/reference/000460r.mp4
Oh Mary dear, go ask your mother
If you indeed my wedded wife may be
And if she says, "No" come back and tell me
And it's the last time that I'll trouble thee.
Oh no I can't ask my mother,
For she's in her bed of rest.
And in her hand she holds a letter,
That has caused the most of my distress.
Oh Mary dear, go ask your father,
If you my wedded wife may be,
And if he says, "No" come back and tell me
And it's the last time that I'll trouble thee.
Oh no I can't ask my father,
For he lies on his bed of rest.
And in his hand he hold a weapon
To slay the one that I love best.
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Sung by Pearl Jacobs Borusky, July 13, 1938. Cf. Sharp, Awake, Awake. Mrs. Jacobs says that the verses marked 3 and 4 should come first.
1. ["O, Mary dear, go ask your mother
If you indeed[1] my (my wedded) wife may be,
And if she says no, come back and
tell me And it's the last time that 'll trouble thee."
2. "O, no, I cannot ask my mother,
For she lies on her bed of rest,
And in her hands she holds a letter
That has caused me most of my distress."
3. "O, Mary dear, go ask your father
If you indeed my (my wedded) wife may be,
And if he says no, come back and tell me,
And it's the last time that I'll trouble thee."
4. "O, no, I cannot ask my father
For he lies on his bed of rest
And in his hand he holds a dagger
To kill the one that I love best."
1. her grandmother sing "indeed"