Sweet William- Long (MS) c1923 Hudson
[From B. H. Bronson, "The Singing Tradition of Child's Popular Ballads" pp. 115-116, No. 17.
This version from Long through her family may be very old. Halpert writes:
I make grateful acknowledgment to Miss Mary Ila Long, without whose assistance this collection could not have been made. Miss Long's mother, Mrs. Theodosia Bonnett Long, who is now seventy years old, is a typical ballad singer. She still sings many that she learned during childhood from her mother, Mrs. Martha Long Bonnett. The latter was born in South Carolina, in 1818, of English and Irish ancestry. She had a deep religious and poetic nature, which made her a most unusual woman. She was the author of several civil war songs. The father of Mrs. Bonnett was Alex Long, who was born about 1780 of native Irish parentage. He was a skilled mechanic and a very versatile and interesting man. He, also, had a gift for poetry and music. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Martha Long Bonnett, Elijah Ivey, who was born in England about 1750 and spent his youth in that counry. At the age of seventeen he left England to come to America. Soon afterwards he fought in the Revolution. He became a large plantation owner and was held in high esteem. He was noted for his kindly disposition and his religious and musical t€emperament. In all probability he transmitted some of the English and scottish popular ballads in this collection.
R. Matteson 2011, 2014]
77. "Sweet William" Hudson, 1937, No. 22. Sung by Mrs. Theodosia B. Long and Mary Ila Long, Mississippi, between 1923 and 1930.
1. Before the rising of the sun,
One morning early in sweet May,
When the tops of the trees were very green,
And the roots had withered away,
When the tops of the trees were very green,
And the roots had withered away.
2. Sweet William mounted the milk-white steed,
He proudly led the dappled gray,
He swung-his bugles around his neck,
And he went riding away,
He swung his bugles around his neck,
And he went riding away.
3. He rode till he came to fair Eleanor's gate,
And tingled loudly at the ring,
"Are you sleeping or not fair Eleanor," he said,
"Are you sleeping or not within?"
"Are you sleepin! or not fair Eleanor," he said,
"Are you sleeping or not within?"
4. Fair Eleanor gladly rosed up,
And quickly slipped on her shoes,
And straightway out to her dear sweet William,
Fair Eleanor she then goes,
And straightway out to her dear sweet William,
Fair Eleanor she then goes.
5. He helped her up on the milk-white steed,
And proudly rode the dappled gray ,
He swung his bugles around his neck,
And they went riding away,
He swung his bugles around his neck,
And they went riding away.
6. They rode till they came to a distant town,
And slowly back he looked again,
He saw her father and seven brothers,
Come galloping down the lane,
He saw her father and seven brothers,
Come galloping down the lane.
7. "Oh, hold these bridles, fair Ellen," he said,
"And listen to my strong command,
While I fight your father and seven brothers,
Upon their own broad land,
While I fight your father and seven brothers,
Upon their own broad land."
8. Fair Eleanor there so near she stood,
And never one single word she said,
Till she saw her father and seven brothers,
A-wallowing in their blood,
Till she saw her father and seven brothers,
A-wallowing in their blood.
9. "Now hold your tongue sweet William," she said,
"And listen to all that I have to say,
Oh, once I had seven brothers and a father,
And their lives you have taken away,
Oh, once I had seven brothers and a father,
And their lives you have taken away."
10. He helped her up on the milk-white steed,
He quickly mounted the dappled gray,
He.swung his bugles around his neck,
And they went riding away,
He swung his bugles 'round his neck,
And they went riding away.
11. They rode till they came to his mother's gate,
And tingled loudly at the ring,
"Oh tie my head dear mother he said,
For you never will tie it again,
Oh make my bed dear sister," he said,
"For you never will make it again."
12. Oh this young man died like today,
And this young lady died like tomorrow,
Oh, this young man died of wounds in the head,
And this young lady of sorrow,
Oh this young man died of wounds in his head,
And this young lady of sorrow.