The Silver Dagger- Emma Dusenbury (AR) 1936 REC
[From: Duncan Emrich 'American Folk Poetry' pp 75-76. Recorded by John A. Lomax and Laurence Powell from the singing of Mrs Emma Dusenbury at Mena, Arkansas, in 1936. Library of Congress AFS record 866.
This is the "missing broadside version."
R. Matteson 2016]
THE SILVER DAGGER- Sung by Emma Dusenbury at Mena, Arkansas, in 1936.
Young man and maid, pray lend attention
And a story I'll relate
Of the young man who I will mention
That courted fair a pretty girl
And when his parents came to know this
They strove against it night and day
And said, "Oh, son, don't be so foolish
For she's too poor for to marry you."
Down on his bended knees a-crying
Saying, "Cruel parents, pity me;
Don't keep me from my own dear Julie
What's all this world without her to me."
He wandered off by flowing waters
He taken his seat by a shady tree
He set and said, "Oh, shall I ever
Ever any more my true love see."
Then he being close unto a thicket
He thought he heard a female's voice
He run to her like one distracted
And said, "Oh, true love, I'm forever lost."
Then she lay fainting by his feet side
Her cold, dark eyes like stars they shine
Saying, "Prepare to meet me on Mount Zion
Where all true loves in peace do meet."
Then she pulled out a silver dagger
She pieced it through her snow-white breast
Saying, "Adieu, adieu, I'm gone forever
I'm gone forevermore to rest."
Then he picked up this bloody weapon
He pierced it through his tender heart
Saying, "Leave this as dreadful token
To those that keep me and Julie apart."