Pretty Fair Maid- Mrs. L. L. Fuson
[Other names of this English ballad include, 'A Sweetheart in the Army,' 'The Single Sailor,' and 'The Returning Soldier.' Its been collected in many states including North Carolina, Florida (SFLQ VIII 165-6), Virginia (FSV 45-9), Missouri (OFS I 28-61), Ohio (BSO 152), and Wisconsin (JAFL III 8).
R. Matteson 2014]
PRETTY FAIR MAID
1. Pretty fair maid, all in the garden,
A jolly young sailor came riding by,
As he rode he did address her;
Saying, "Pretty maid will you marry me?"
2. "Oh no, kind sir, not a man of honor,
Though a man of honor you may be,
Could thus impose upon a lady,
A lady not fit your bride to be.
3. I have a little lover on the ocean,
For seven long years been gone from me,
And if he's gone, there seven years longer,
Not a man on earth can marry.
4. Maybe your true love, he's got drowned,
Or maybe he's on some battlefield slain;
Or maybe he's to some pretty girl married
And your true lover no more you'll see."
5. "If he's dead I hope he's happy,
Or if he's on some battlefield slain;
Or if he's to some pretty girl married,
I'll love the girl that married him."
6. He drew his hands all from his pockets,
His fingers they were strung with gold,
Saying, "This is the ring you put upon me,
Then at his feet the maid did fall.
7. He picked her up all in his arms
The kisses he gave her they were three;
"If I had stayed there seven years longer,
Not a girl on earth could have married me."
This song was obtained from Mr. L . L. Fuson of Smithville, Tennessee, and from Mrs. Otis Miller, are of Smithville; though the two have lived some twelve miles or more apart all their lives. Therefore very slight, differences in the two versions but of such nature that it seems useless to record both. The above follows both versions thus: when any difference in words occurred, the most likely wola was chosen i the differences belng so slight- that this really offers no variance to the original texts.
Later, the song was obtained in practically the same form, both words and music, from Mrs. L. L. Lassiter and from Mr. Billy Watson. Mr. Watson sang it a number of times in the presence of the authors of this book with only slight variations in the tune.
Mrs. Sally Phelps, of the eastern part of DeKalb County, also sang the old song.