The 'Prentice Boy- Becky Gordon (NC) 1928 Brown B
[From The Brown Collection of NC Folklore, Vol. 1, 1952 and vol. 4, 1956. Their notes follow,
R. Matteson 2016]
62. The Bramble Brier
For detailed discussion of the relation of this ballad to the fifth story of the fourth day of the Decameron, see PMLA xxxiii 327-95; and for its currency as traditional song BSM 109, adding Virginia (FSV 64), Tennessee (BTFLS 11 27), Arkansas (OFS i 381-2), Indiana (SFLQ v 176-7), and Michigan (BSSM 59-61). Our two North Carolina texts are grammatically pretty rough, like most of the texts from American tradition.
B. 'The 'Prentice Boy.' Reported by Mrs. Sutton as sung by Mrs. Becky Gordon of Saluda Mountain, Henderson county, in the summer of 1928. "This one she said she learned from her mother, who was raised on Saluda Mountain."
1 There was a man who lived a merchant,
He had two sons and a daughter fair;
A 'prentice boy that was bound to him.
To him alone was left the same.
2 One evening they were silent, courting,
Her brothers tranced [1] by the door,
Saying, 'Now your courtship'll soon be over,
I'll hasten you uns to your grave.'
3 Oh, to begin this bloody murder
A-hunting these three men did go;
Over hills and lonely mountings
And lonesome valleys they did go.
4 'Twas late that night when they return-ed.
Their sister asked them where they'd been.
'What makes you make sich straight inquiring
About that young and servant man?'
5 'Becayse I hyerd your silent whisper.
Pray tell me, brother; my heart will break.'
6 'Twas late that night when she was sleeping
He 'peared to her by her bedside.
All cut and gashed like being wounded,
All beat up into gores of blood.
7 She rose next morning bright and early
And hunting her young man did go,
It's over hills and lonely mountings,
Some lonesome valleys she did go.
8 Before she come to the place of trial[2]
There were the dead, him killed and thrown.
Three days and nights she fasted by him,
All on her bended knees did stand.
9 She kissed him over and over, crying.
Saying, 'This dear bosom was a friend of mine.'
10 'I thought, my dear, I would stay by you
Until my heart did sink with woe,
I feel sharp hunger creeping on me
And forces me homeward to go.'
11 'Twas late the third night when she return-ed,
Her brothers asked her where she'd been.
'You most unkind and cruel creatures,
For him alone you both shall swing.'
12 Now to git shet[3] of that bloody murder
Across the ocean they did go.
The wind did blow, and it was no wonder
The stormy sea blowed 'em both to their graves.
1. Probably written for "chanced." Cf. M.E. and dial, "traunce," to tramp about.
2. place of briar(s) or patch of briars
3. get shed (get away from that bloody murder)
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62. The Bramble Briar [music from Vol. IV]
'The 'Prentice Boy.' Sung by Aunt Becky Gordon. Recorded on July 19, 1939, but no place given. The title given by the singer is 'The Silk Merchant's Daughter.' The story is practically identical with 'In Seaport Town.' Cf. SharpK I 313, No. 48E. As frequently in these re-recordings, the first stanza does not begin with the initial measures.
[music upcoming]
For melodic relationship cf. **SharpK i 313, No. 48E, measures 1-2; ibid. 310, version A, last two measures; OFS i 381, No. 100, measures 1-4. Scale: Mode III, plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: aa1bcbc (2,2,2,2,2,2) = abb (4,4,4) = nmm (inverted barform).