Pretty Sally- Glasscock (WV) pre1957 Musick A
[From: Ballads and Folksongs from West Virginia by Ruth Ann Musick
The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 70, No. 277 (Jul. - Sep., 1957), pp. 247-261
15. "Pretty Sally" (The Brown Girl, Child 295) [19]
15.1. Contributed by Mrs. Glasscock, who learned this not too common ballad from her grandmother (see Ex. 21).
(1) There was a fair damsel, from London she came;
A beautiful damsel, and Sally was her name.
Her beauty was so bright and her riches was so high;
That upon this poor young man she'd scarcely cast an eye.
(2) "Oh, Sally, pretty Sally, oh, Sally, love," says he;
"It's I am afraid that our love it won't agree.
I'm afraid that your beauty will my ruins prove,
Unless that your hatred is turned into love."
(3) "No hatred to you, sir, nor no other man,
But to tell you that I love you is more than I can;
You may drop your intention, we'll end our discourse,
For I never will wed you, unless I am forced."
(4) "No forcing, no forcing, for you to marry me;
No forcing, pretty Sally, for you to marry me;
But the time it will come when you will relent,
And of your past actions, I hope you will repent."
(5) After fourteen weeks was over, was over and past,
This beautiful damsel felt sick at the last;
She felt sick at the last and she knew not for why,
But she sent for this young man she once did deny.
(6) "Oh, Sally, pretty Sally, oh, Sally, love," says he,
"It's am I the doctor that you have sent for me?"
"Yes, the doctor you are, that can kill or can cure;
But without your assistance, I'm ruined I am sure."
(7) "Oh, where is the pain? Does it lie in your head?
Or, where is the pain? Does it lie in your side?"
"It is neither of them, the right you've not guessed,
For the pain that torments me lies sore in my breast."
(8) "Oh, Sally, pretty Sally, oh, Sally, love," says he;
"Oh, well I remember when I first courted thee;
When I first courted you, you treated me with scorn,
And now, I'll reward you for what's past and gone."
(9) "Oh, for what has passed and gone, forget and forgive,
And grant me on this, sir, some longer to live."
"For what has passed and gone, I never will forget,
But I'll dance on your grave when you're buried in the earth."
(10) "It's farewell to my father and all of my friends;
And to you, my loving sweetheart, may the Lord make amends.
I truly would forgive him, although he won't me,
And ten thousand time over, my folly I see."
(11) Then off of her fingers, she pulled diamond rings three,
Saying, "Take them and keep them in remembrance of me;
And, when you're through dancing, call Sally your queen,
And fly from your country [1], no more to be seen."
(12) After Sally was dead and was buried in the earth,
The cupids from above shot an arrow of love,
Which wounded this poor young man, and caused him to complain,
And in raving distraction, he called on Sally's name.
(I3) "Oh, Sally, oh, Sally, oh Sally's dead and gone;
And for me there is no comfort, she now is in the tomb;
'Twas for me that she died, and for her I'll do the same,
For I never can live happy, oh wretch that I am."
1. colors; see Sharp A and B and other versions- most have "colors."