The Shining Dagger- James Atwood (VT) 1919 Sturgis
[From: Songs from the Hills of Vermont by Edith Barnes Sturgis- 1919. Her notes follow.
R. Matteson 2016]
Notes on the Songs 8. The Shining Dagger (sung by James Atwood) shows the admixture of the two ballads, "The Drowsy Sleeper" and "The Silver Dagger." See the "Journal of American Folk-Lore," vol. xx, p. 260; vol. xxx, pp. 338-343, 361-363; Campbell and Sharp, No. 47, pp. 173-175.
The Shining Dagger- Sung by James Atwood.
1. "Awake, awake, you drowsy sleeper,
Awake and listen unto me;
There's someone your bedroom window,
A-weeping there most bitterly."
2. Mary raised her head from her drowsy pillow
To see who calling her might be;
Whom did she spy but her own true lover
A-weeping there most bitterly.
3. He said, "Mary dear, go ask your father
If you my wedded bride may be.
If he says, 'No,' love, return and tell me,
And I no more will trouble thee."
4. "It is no use to ask my father,
For he is on his bed of rest.
And by his side is a shining dagger
To pierce the heart that I love best."
5. He said, "Mary dear, go ask your mother
If you my wedded bride may be;
If she says 'No,' love, return and tell me,
And I no more will trouble thee."
6. "It is no use to ask my mother.
She too intends to set us free.
So go, my dear, and court some other
And I no more will trouble thee."
7 Then did he seize his own bright dagger
And pierced it through his aching heart.
"Adieu, adieu, my darling Mary;
Adieu, adieu, we now must part!"
8. Then Mary seized the blood-stained dagger
And pierced it through her lily breast.
"Adieu, adieu, both, father and mother,
My love and I are now at rest."
9."Oh I can climb the tallest tree, love.
And I can reach the highest nest,
And I can pluck the sweetest rose, love,
But not the heart that I love best."