Sallie- Mrs. D.B. Clark (Attributed to Child 295)
[These ballads, based on the broadside titled similarly, Sallie and her Truelove Billie, have been grouped with Child 295, The Brown Girl, incorrectly, in my opinion. Still I'm including them under Child 295, so noted. See previous ballad, Rich Irish Lady. I'm taking the liberty of assembling this ballad from the information provided.
R. Matteson 2014]
A version submitted by Mrs. D. B. Clark shows much more differences.
SALLIE
I. There was a rich lady; from Scotland she came,
A beautiful lady, called Sallie by name;
Her riches were more than a king could possess,
And her beauty was more than her riches at best.
2. There was a poor boy that came to court her,
His wages being one thousand a year,
She being so wealthy; so lofty and high,
Upon this poor boy, she scarce cast an eye.
3. "O Sally, O Sally, O Sally," said he,
I'm afraid that, our courtship will never agree;
Unless all your hatred be turned into love,
"We'll never get married, by the Powers above!"
4. "Oh, no, I don't hate your nor no other man,
But, to say that I love you is more than I can.
I'm sure I'll not have you unless I am forced,
So I think it full time, sir, to end your discourse."
5. Six weeks had scarce come but six weeks passed,
And this beautiful lady was taken at last;
All tangled in love, she scarcely knew why,
She sent, for the young man she once did deny.
6. "Am I any doctor, that you send for me here?
Or an I the young man who once loved you so dear?
"You are the young doctor, can kill or can cure,
And without your assistance I'm ruined I'm sure."
7. "O Sally, O Sally, O Sally to said he,
"Oh, don't you remember when you first slighted me?
You laughed at my courtship and refused me with scorn,
And now I'll reward you for what's past and gone."
8. "What's past, and gone, Love, forget and forgive,
And grant, me the pleasure a while longer to live."
"No , I won't do that, till the great, Judgement Day,
And I'll dance on your grave when you're laid in the clay."
9. She took from her finger, ring, gold, diamonds, all those,
"Wear those, noble sweetheart, when dancing on me,
And when you're done dancing on Sally, your queen,
Then flee from your sorrow, never more to be seen."
10. This beautiful lady was laid in the tomb,
And Willie was taken on hearing her doom;
His heart full of sorrow, his soul it did weep,
He called for his Sallie, but she was asleep.
11. "Oh Sallie, Oh Sallie, O Sallie," said he ;
You're laid in the earth, and I'm sorry for thee.
Soon I shall die and be laid by your side,
I'll wed you in death, love, I'll make you my bride.''
The tune written above is remembered by Mrs. McDowell from her chlldhood, though she could recall little of the words except, the often repeated "O Sally."