Old Man in the North Country- Lunsford (NC) 1949 REC; Bronson 23
[No informant named, collected and performed by Bascom Lamar Lunford. Bronson 23, two recordings made, in 1949 and 1956.
R. Matteson 2014]
"The Old Man in the North Country." Emirich, LC/AAFS, No. 9474 At Sung by Bascom L. Lunsford in Washington, D.C., April, 1949; learned in the region around Asheville, N.C. Also on Bascom Lamar Lunsford – The Appalachian Minstrel on an LP by Washington Records – VM 736; 1956.
Was an old man in the North Country,
Bow down,
'Was an old man in the North Country,
Bow down and balance t' me,
Was an old man in the North Country,
He had daughters one, two, three.
I'll be true to you, my love,
If you'll be true to me.
He bought the youngest a silken hat,
Bow down, bow down,
He bought the youngest a silken hat;
The oldest daughter couldn't stand that.
I'll be true to you, my love,
If you'll be true to me.
They walked down by the water's brim,
Bow down, bow down,
They walked down by the water's brim,
The eldest pushed the youngest in.
I'll be true to you, my love,
If you'll be true to me.
She floated down to the miller's dam,
Bow down, bow down,
She floated down to the miller's dam,
The miller pulled her to dry land.
I'll be true to you, my love,
If you'll be true to me.
From her hand he took five rings,
Bow down, bow down,
From her hand he took five rings,
Then he pushed her in again.
I'll be true to you, my love,
If you'll be true to me.
They hung the miller on the gallows high,
Bow down, bow down,
They hung the miller on the gallows high,
The eldest daughter hung close by.
I'll be true to you, my love,
If you'll be true to me.