The Duke's Daughter- Rogers (WV) pre1975 Gainer
[From: Folk Songs from the West Virginia Hills, Ganier, 1975. As with all of Gainer's collection, there's no telling if this is legitimate. His notes follow. The title is likely borrowed from Newell's version. The ballad has a tradition in West Virginia (Cox, Musick etc.)
R. Matteson 2015]
THE DUKE'S DAUGHTER
(CHILD 155, "SIR HUGH" OR "THE JEW'S DAUGHTER")
Numerous versions of this ballad have been found in West Virginia, varying only slightly in details. Some versions are called "The Jew's Daughter," suggesting anti-Semitism. The anti-Semitism, however, has been erased, by the folk tradition. I have heard old people pronounce "Jew" as "Due," which might explain the title, "The Duke's Daughter." Sung by Mrs. Rogers, of Newton, Roane County.
It rained a mist, it rained a mist.
It rained all over the town,
When three little boys went out to play,
And tossed their ball around, around,
And tossed their ball around.
And first they tossed the ball too high,
And then it was too low,
Until into the Duke's garden it went,
Where no one dared to go, to go,
Where no one dared to go.
Out came the Duke's daughter all dressed in silk,
All dressed in silk so fine.
"Come in, come in, my pretty sweet boy,
You shall have your ball again, again,
You shall have your ball again."
"I won't come in, I shan't come in,
Without my playmates do,
For I have heard whoever comes in,
Will never come out again, again,
Will never come out again."
First she showed him a big red apple,
And then a soft ripe pear,
And then a cherry red as blood,
To entice this little boy in, in, in,
To entice this little boy in.
First she led him into the parlor,
And then out into the hall,
And then into the dining room,
Where no one could hear him call, call, call,
Where no one could hear him call.
She wrapped him in a napkin stout,
And pinned it with a pin.
She called up for the butcher knife
To let his heart's blood out, out, out,
To let his heart's blood out.
"O spare me now, O spare me now,"
The little boy did cry,
"And when I grow to be a man
My riches shall be thine, be thine,
My riches shall all be thine.
"O lay the Bible at my feet,
The prayerbook at my head,
And when my playmates ask for me,
Go tell them that I'm asleep, asleep,
Go tell them that I'm asleep."