Sweet William- Lincoln (MA) c1823 JAF Barry B
[From Traditional Ballads in New England II by Phillips Barry; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 18, No. 70 (Jul. - Sep., 1905), pp. 191-214. The same version appeared in Barry 1903 article The Ballad of Lord Randal in New England with these notes:
Mrs. Julia M. Lincoln, of Hingham, Mass., communicated this version to me, which she learned from her mother. The song was well known in Springfield, Mass., eighty years ago. The most notable feature is the statement concerning the poison, which is said to be ale. In only one other English version (Child, H.) is the poison given in a drink, described "A cup of strong poison."
R. Matteson 2014]
B. [Sweet William.] Taken down by me September 2I, 1903, from the singing of J. M. L., Hingham, Mass., a native of Springfield, Mass., where the ballad was sung eighty or more years ago.
1. "Oh, where have you been, Sweet William, my son?
Oh, where have you been, my own dearest one?"
"Oh, I've been a-hunting, mother make the bed soon,
For I'm poisoned to the heart, and I fain would lie down."
2. "Oh, what have you been a-drinking, Sweet William, my son?
Oh, what have you been a-drinking, my own dearest one?"
"Oh, 'tis ale I've been a-drinking, mother make the bed soon,
For I'm poisoned to the heart, and I fain would lie down."
3. "Oh, who gave it you, Sweet William, my son?
Oh, who gave it you, my own dearest one?"
"My Sweetheart, she gave it me, mother make the bed soon,
For I'm poisoned to the heart, and I fain would lie down."
4. "Oh, what will you give Father, Sweet William, my son?
Oh, what will you give Father, my own dearest one?"
"My horses and cattle, mother make the bed soon,
For I'm poisoned to the heart, and I fain would lie down."
5. "Oh, what will you give Mother, Sweet William, my son?
Oh, what will you give Mother, my own dearest one?"
"My love and my blessing, mother make the bed soon,
For I'm poisoned to the heart, and I fain would lie down."
6 "Oh, what will you give Brother, Sweet William, my son?
Oh, what will you give Brother, my own dearest one ?"
My sword and my pistol, mother make the bed soon,
For I 'm poisoned to the heart, and I fain would lie down."
7. "Oh, what will you give Sister, Sweet William, my son?
Oh, what will you give Sister, my own dearest one?"
"My gold and my jewels, mother make the bed soon,
For I'm poisoned to the heart, and I fain would lie down."
8. "Oh, what will you give Sweetheart, Sweet William, my son?
Oh, what will you give Sweetheart, my own dearest one?"
"Give her Hell and damnation, mother make the bed soon,
For I'm poisoned to the heart, and I fain would lie down."