The Merchant's Daughter- (TN) 1950
[From "Bulletin" - Volumes 16 - Page 27 of the Tennessee Folklore Society - 1950, with tune. I don't have details about this version yet.
R. Matteson 2016]
The Merchant's Daughter
1. There once was a rich and wealthy merchant
Who had two sons and a daughter fair,
There was a poor and awkward boy
Who came to love this lady fair
Who came to love this lady fair.
2. While they were in the garden courting
Her brother overheard their plan.
He ran and told his older brother
That they must kill the servant man.
3. They persuaded him to go a-hunting.
They traveled all over the hill and plain
Till at last they came to a lonesome valley,
And there they did both kill and slay.
4. As she lay in her bedroom sleeping
He came and by her bedside stood,
His red, rosy cheeks new with tears o'er flowing
And his body all in a gore of blood.
5. Next morning she arose quite early.
She traveled all over the hill and plain
Till at last she came to the lonesome valley,
And there she found the servant man.
6. Then her brothers saw her coming
They kindly asked her where she'd been.
To this request she gave no answer,
But asked instead for the servant man.
7. Her brothers looked each at the other.
At last the older made reply:
"We've lost him in our game of hunting,
Oh, Sister, do not weep nor cry!"
8. "Hush up, hush up, you falsifying brothers!
I know you've murdered the servant man.
You need not You need not try to hide your murder.
Upon the gallows you both shall hang!"