Sweet Sally- Bostic (NC) 1938 Brown C
[Brown Collection of NC Folklore Volume 2, c.1952. See music from Vol. 4 at bottom of page. Between Brown, Abrams (who published an article on this ballad in 1973), Cratis Williams and I.G. Greer many versions of this ballad were collected. Brown published three in Volume 2 and two in Volume 4 (music). With Music; the original MS can be viewed online (Abrams Collection).
R. Matteson Jr. 2014]
90. A Brave Irish Lady [Titled after Belden 1940]
For the relation of this ballad to Child 295, 'The Brown Girl,' and for its occurrence in other collections, see BSM 111-12, and add to the references there given Virginia (FSV 44-5), Tennessee (JAFL XLV 53-4), North Carolina (FSRA 74-5), Florida (FSF 330), Arkansas (OFS i 209), Missouri (OFS I 205-8, 209-12), Indiana (BSI 164-5), Michigan (BSSM 250-1), and Wisconsin (JAFL LII 12-13). The lady is not always Irish, and even when she is she sometimes comes from London. The ballad appears to have been widely known in this country since early in the last century; the text reported from Vermont is from a local songbook of 1823, and the first of our North Carolina texts is from a manuscript of about the same date. Stall texts (e.g., that in the Brown University Library, reprinted in BBM) sometimes end happily with the man relenting, but more commonly the story ends with the death of the lovesick lady. Besides the three here described our collection has another version, without indication of source, date, or place.
C. 'Sweet Sally.' Secured by W. Amos Abrams from Mrs. A. L. Bostic of Mooresboro, Cleveland county, and sent to Dr. Brown in 1938.
1 A noble young squire from London he came
To court this fair damsel, and Sally by name.
Her being so lofty and a fortune so high
That 'twas on this young squire she would scarce cast an eye.
2 'Oh, Sally, sweet Sally, pretty Sally,' said he,
'I'm fearing your beauty my ruin will be.
. . . . . . [1]
Unless your hatred will turn into love.'
3 'I've no hatred for you, sir; I've no other man;
But to say that I love you is more than I can.'
4 About six months after, the seventh not past,
I heard of this young lady's misfortune at last.
She was pierced through the breast and she knew not in what form,
So she sent for this young lawyer whom she had slighted and scorned.
5 As he approached the bedside he said,
'Is the pain in your head, love, or is it your side?'
*No, sir, you've not the right guess ;
The pain that's so piercing is right here in my breast.'
6 'Oh, Sally, sweet Sally, pretty Sally,' said he,
'Do you remember when you slighted me?
You slighted me most shamefully, likewise and you scorned;
Now I will reward you for what's past and gone.'
7 'I hope you'll forgive me for what's past and gone
And spare me some longer a time for to live.'
'I'll never forgive you whilst I have a breath
But will dance on your grave when you're laid in the earth.'
8 'Twas off her fingers pulled diamond rings three:
'Take these rings and wear them while dancing on me.
They tell me the buried shall rest in the ground.
Peace and goodwill to every nation around.
9 'Farewell to my kindred, farewell to my friends.
Farewell to pretty Johnny; God make him a man. [2]
'I freely forgive him although he won't me.
Ten thousand times over my folly I see.'
1. I'm afraid that your beauty my ruin shall prove, (although redundant, it appears that way in Long, Mississippi c. 1863 Hudson)
2. originally, "God make amends;"
Brown Vol. 4:
'Sweet Sally.' Sung by Mrs. G. L. Bostic. Recorded at Mooresboro, Cleveland county, August 7, 1939- Other titles given are 'Brown Girl,' 'Irish Girl,' and 'Pretty Girl.'
For melodic relationship cf. **SharpK I 299, No. 44G, measures 2-3 and 7-8 with our 5-6 and 7-8. Scale: Mode I. Tonal Center: c. Structure: abacacdb2 (2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2) = aa1a1b (4,4,4,4).