Sweet William and Fair Ellen- Nolan(KY) 1920 Wells
[From Wells, NPMSS, (January 1935), pp. 2-3. Also Wells, "A Ballad Tree" 1950, pp. 147-48. Bronson 37. Last two lines are repeated as in stanzas 1 and 2.
R. Matteson 2014]
"Sweet William and Fair Ellen" Sung by "Singing Willie", Nolan, Harlan, County, Ky., 1920.
1. Sweet William rode up to Fair Ellen's gate
And he sounded on the ring.
No one no readier than she was,
To arise and let him in.
No one no readier than she was,
To arise and let him in.
2. He mounted her on a milk-white horse
And himself on an iron gray,
He swung his bugle about his neck
And so went riding away.
He swung his bugle about his neck
And so went riding away.
3. He rode till he came in three miles of town,
He turned himself all around,
:He looked and he saw some seven horsemen
Come travelling over the ground. [sim.]
4. Get you down, get you down, Fair Ellen, he said,
And take my steed in hand;
'Till I go back to yon little spring,
And I will fight them seven horsemen.
5. She stood till she saw her six brothers fall,
And her old father she loved so dear;
Slack your arm, slack your arm, Sweet William,
For your licks they are wonderful severe.
6. Are you offended at what I have done,
Or at what's been said before,
I wish myself in Old England's land,
And you was in the valley so low.
7. I am not offended at what you have done,
Or what has been said before,
I wish myself in Old England's land,
And you was in the valley so low.
8. She drew her handkerchief from her side,
And wiped Sweet William's wounds,
The blood kept rolling down his cheeks,
As red as any wine.
9. He mounted her on her milk-white horse
And himself on his iron grey,
He swung his bugle around his neck
And so went riding away.
10. He rode till he came to his mother's hall,
And sounded on the ring.
Says, Sleeper, awake, dear Mother, he says,
And arise and let me in.
11. As she were getting up, a-slipping on her clothes,
To let Sweet William in,
:Bind up my head, sweet sister, he said,
For you never will bind it again.