Sarah the Queen- Flannery (NC) 1938 Abrams
[From the W. Amos Abrams Collection; text from [Joe Samuel] Sam Flannery, 1870-? of Zionville, Watauga County, North Carolina in February 1938.
The text may be viewed on-line at the W. Amos Abrams Collection. Spelling kept as in the original. See also corrected version below.
R. Matteson Jr. 2014]
SARAH THE QUEEN- original text from Flannery
There was a young man
A rich merchant son
He coarted a fair damsel
Worth five hundred tons.
You may drop your itims
And end your discorse
For I will never have you
Unless I am forced.
Now six weeks is coming
And six weeks was pasted
This fair little damsel
Took sick at last.
She was tangle in love
And she could not tell why
When she sent for this young man
She once did denie
Am I the doctor
You sent for me here
Or am I the one
You used to love so dear.
Your are the doctor
You can kill or can cure
Without your assisting
I am ruined I am sure.
Oh Sarah, Oh Sarah said he
Dont you remember
When you slited me.
You laught at my coart ship
You slited me with scorn
Now I will reward you
With things that pasted and gon.
For things pasted and gon
Oh love forget and forgive
And grant me some longer
In this world to live
I will never have you
While breath in me
And I will dance on your grave
When you are laid in the ground.
Off of her fingers
Gold rings she took three
Take them and ware them
While dancing on me.
Your colors will fail you
And you will turn green
While you are dancing
Oh Sarah Sarah your queen.
SARAH THE QUEEN- corrected with footnotes
There was a young man
A rich merchant's son
He courted a fair damsel
Worth five hundred tons. [1]
You may drop your items
And end your discourse
For I will never have you
Unless I am forced.
Now six weeks is coming
And six weeks was pasted
This fair little damsel
Took sick at last.
She was tangled in love
And she could not tell why
When she sent for this young man
She once did deny.
Am I the doctor
You sent for me here?
Or am I the one
You used to love so dear?
Your are the doctor
You can kill or can cure
Without your assisting
I am ruined I am sure.
Oh Sarah, [Oh Sarah] [2]
Oh Sarah said he
Don't you remember
When you slighted me.
You laughed at my courtship
You slighted me with scorn
Now I will reward you
With things that pasted and gone.
For things pasted and gone
Oh love forget and forgive
And grant me some longer
In this world to live
I will never have you
While breath [is] in me
And I will dance on your grave
When you are laid in the ground.
Off of her fingers
Gold rings she took three
Take them and wear them
While dancing on me.
Your colors will fail you [3]
And you will turn green
While you are dancing
Oh Sarah Sarah your queen.
1. (of money). See also Adams MS (Brown A) from 1824
2. Line is missing, I've added text to make a typical traditional line.
3. See notes for Sharp A and B about "colors."