The Silver Dagger- Mrs. Hopkins (IN) 1935 Brewster B1
[From Brewster: Ballads and Songs of Indiana; 1940. His notes follow. This is a version of the composed ballad, a collected version was published in 1849 in NY in Spirit of the Times as sung by "Sal Jenkins." The original has not been found but it would have been printed around 1810. The B version in the Brown Collection is dated 1838.
R. Matteson 2016]
38 THE SILVER DAGGER
Four texts of this song have been recovered in Indiana, all of them under the title "The Silver Dagger." All four tell the same story.
For other American texts and references, see Campbell and Sharp, II, p. 229; Cox, p. 350; Journal, XX, 267; XXX, 362; XLVI, 45; XLIX, 211; Hudson, Folksongs, p. 188; Pound, Ballads, No. 52; Sturgis and Hughes, Songs from the Hills of Vermont, p. 30; Thomas, p. 110; Neely, Tales and Songs of Southern Illinois, p. 162.
B "The Silver Dagger." Contributed by Mrs. A. J. Hopkins, of Boonville, Indiana. Warrick County. August 3, 1935. With music.
1. Young men and maids, pray lend attention
To these few lines I'm about to write;
It is as true as ever was mentioned
Concerning a fair and a beautiful bride.
2. A young man courted her to be his darling;
He loved her as he loved his life;
And unto her he had often vowed.
That he would make her only his wife.
3. Now when his father came to know this,
He strove to part them night and day,
To part him from his own dear jewel;
"She is poor," he would often say.
4. Now when the lady came to know this,
She quick resolved what she should do;
She wandered off and left the city,
No more its pleasant groves to view.
5. She wandered down by a flowing river
And sat herself down by a tree;
She sighed and said, "O shall I never,
Never no more my true-love see.
6. Then out she took a silver dagger,
And pierced it through her tender breast;
At first she reeled and then she staggered,
Saying, "True-love, I am going to rest."
7. He happened nearby in a thicket,
Not knowing that she was so near;
He ran, he ran like one distracted,
Saying, "I have lost my only dear!
8. Then up he picked the bleeding body,
And folded it closely in his arms,
Saying, "Is there no friends nor gold can save you,
Or must you die with all your charms?"
9. Her coal-black eyes like stars did open,
Saying, "True-love, you have come too late;
Prepare to meet me on Mount Zion
Where all our joys shall be complete."
10. Then up he picked the bloody dagger
And pierced it through his own dear heart,
Saying, "Let this be a woeful warning
To all who may true-lovers part."