The Comely Youth- Long (MS) 1926 Hudson
[From: Ballads and Songs from Mississippi by Arthur Palmer Hudson; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 39, No. 152 (Apr. - Jun., 1926), pp. 93-194. See Barry's comments on stanza 2.
R. Matteson 2015]
7. THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER OF ISLINGTON. (Child, No. 105.)
"The Comely Youth." Communicated by Mr. G. E. Bynum, from Mary Long who copied the words and music from her mother, Mrs. Theodosia Bonnett Long.
1. There was a youth, and a comely youth,
He was the squire's son,
He fell in love with the bailiff's daughter,
Oh, the lily of Hazling town, town,
The lily of Hazling town.
2. When his cruel parents came this to find,
That he was so inclined,
They sent him away down to London city,
Oh, and bid him a printer's[1] bind, bind,
And bid him a printer's bind.
3. It happened on one bright summer day,
When the maids were out at play,
All but the bailiff's daughter,
Oh, how cunningly she stole away, 'way,
How cunningly she stole away.
4. She dressed herself in robes of silk,
Likewise in rich attire,
And started away down to London city,
Oh, for her true-love to inquire, 'quire,
For her own true-love to inquire.
5. After she had traveled a great long while,
Nine long months and a day,
Whom should she meet but her own true-love,
Oh, come riding along that way, way,
Come riding along that way.
6. She caught his horse by the bridle rein
And wheeled him around to her:
"One kiss from you," the lady cried,
"Oh, will ease my troubled mind, mind,
Will ease my troubled mind."
7. "Where have you been, all this long while,
And where have you remained ?"
"In Hazling town," the lady replied,
Oh, where many a sport we have played, played,
Where many a sport we have played."
8. The very first town that they came to,
He bought her jewels and ring,
The very next town that they came to,
Oh, he gave her a merry wedding, wedding,
He gave her a merry wedding.
1. prentice bind