The Gold Ring- Lucy Rolle (BAH) 1918 Parsons
[From: "Folk-tales of Andros Island, Bahamas" from Memoirs of the American Folk-Lore Society; Parsons; 1918. Only the first verse has been taken from the ballad.
R. Matteson 2016]
112. THE GOLD RING - Story and song by Lucy Rolle about 33, from Andros Island
Once was a time, a very good time,
When monkey chew tobacco an' spit white lime.
Dis was Jack. Engaged to a girl name Greenleaf. He was cotin' her for many months. Jack parents say dey ain't agree for him to marry to Greenleaf. "0h," he said, "if he don' marry to Greenleaf, he go away." Befo' he went he bought a beautiful gol' ring. An' he went to Greenleaf house, gave her de ring, says, "Take dis gol' ring, put it on yer finger. Take dis gol' ring to remember me. An' if I shall remain for a few years mo' longer, I hope you remain a bride o' mine."
1 True-love, true-love,
Go an' ask your mother,
An' what come back to me.
An' if she say yes,
Come back an' tell me;
An' if she say no,
I would no marry.
2. Take dis gol' ring,
Put it on your finger;
Take dis gol' ring
To remember me.
Take dis gol' ring,
Put it on your finger;
Take dis gol' ring
To remember me.
Den off Jack went. At las' Jack wrote for de girl. An' she went. She was married in dat far countree. It was one of de grandest weddin' dat we have ever seen. As I was passin' along de bouquet dat de bride had in her han', she knock me wid de bouquet, an' dere I fell; an' no sooner dan I was on de groun' dere I piss.