Our Goodman [Old Woman]- Gentry (NC) 1916 Sharp A
[From: English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians; Collected by Olive Dame Campbell and Cecil J. Sharp, 1917 and Karpeles/Sharp 1932 edition.
The title, Our Goodman, is the generic title ascribed by Child. A better title is found in brackets. This version is one of the few versions with an introduction (first two lines). Gentry, of Madison Co. NC was one of Sharp's best informants.
R. Matteson 2013]
Sharp's notes- No. 32. Our Goodman:
Texts without tunes:—Child, No. 274. Ford's Vagabond Songs of Scotland, II, 31. Texts with tunes:—Songs of the West, 2d ed., No. 30. Chambers's Songs of Scotland
Prior to Burns, p. 184. American variants:— Journal of American Folk-Lore, XVIII, 294. Musical Quarterly, January, 1916, p. 17 (tune only).
Our Goodman [Old woman]- Sung by Mrs. JANE GENTRY at Hot Springs, N. C, Sept. 16, 1916.
Pentatonic. Mode 3 (no 6th).
1. She beats me, she bangs me, it is her heart's delight,
To beat me with the poking stick when I come home at night.
2. Old woman, old woman, what means all of this?
Horses in the stables where my mules ought to be.
You old fool, you blind fool, it's fool, can't you see?
It's nothing but some milk cows your mammy sent to me.
Miles I have travelled,
Ten thou sand miles or more,
Saddles on milk cow I never saw before.
3 Old woman, etc.
Boots on the floor where my boots ought to be.
You old fool, etc.
It's nothing but a churn, sir, your mammy sent to me.
Miles I have travelled, etc.
Heels on a churn, sir, I never saw before.
4 Old woman, etc.
A hat on a table where my hat ought to be.
You old fool, etc.
It's nothing but a nightcap your mammy sent to me.
Miles I have travelled, etc.
Fur round a nightcap I never saw before.
5 Old woman, etc.
A man in the bed where I ought to be.
You old fool, etc.
It's nothing but a baby your mammy sent to me.
Miles I have travelled, etc.
Hair on a baby's face I never saw before.