The Sister's Husband- Umstead (WV) 1924 Combs
[From Combs' Folk Songs of the Southern United States 1925, reprinted in 1967 edited by Wilgus. The possibility that this is a ballad recreation is great--since it undoubtedly came from Woofter, a ballad recreator, who used Child's books as his basis. Wilgus suspects but gives Woofter the benefit of the doubt. I don't.
The first obvious glimpse of Woofter's impropriety is not the writing of two additional stanzas at the beginning. However, when Woofter tries to Americanize the ballad and names the lord, "Lord Harry" -- that's a dead give-away! And of course Fair Annie plays the banjo!
R. Matteson 2012, 2104]
The Sister's Husband- J. R. Umstead (WV) 1924 Combs (probably from Woofter)
The Indians stole fair Annie,
As she walked by the sea,
But Lord Harry for her ransom paid,
In gold and silver money.
She lived far away with him,
And none knew whence she came;
She lived in a mansion-house with her love,
But never told her name.
"Now make your bed all narrow,
And learn to lie alone;
For I'm going far away Annie,
To bring my sweet bride home.
"I'm going far over the river
To bring my sweet bride home;
For she brings me land and slaves,
And with you I can get none.
"But who will spread the wedding feast,
And pour the red red wine?
And who will welcome my sweet bride,
My bonny bride so fine?"
"O I will spread the wedding feast,
And I will pour the red red wine,
And I will welcome your sweet bride,
Your bonny bride so fine."
"But she who welcomes my sweet bride
Must look like a maiden fair,
With lace on her robe so narrow,
And flowers among her hair.
"Do up, do up your yellow hair,
And knot it on your neck,
And see you look as maiden-like
As when I met you first."
"How can I look so maiden-like,
When maiden I am none?
Have I not had six sons by thee,
And am with child again?"
Four months were past and gone,
And the word to fair Annie came
That the boat was back from the river
With the sweet bonny bride at home.
She took her young son on her hip,
A second by the hand,
And she went out on the upper Porch
To see if the boat did land.
"Come down, come down, O mother dear,
Come down from the porch so tall;
For I fear if longer you stand. there,
You will make yourself fall."
She took her young son on her arm,
A second by the hand,
And with the keys about her waist
Out to the gate has gone.
"O welcome home, my good Lord,
To your mansion and your farm;
O welcome home, my good Lord,
And you are safe from harm.
"O welcome home, my fair lady,
For all that's here is yours;
O welcome home, my fair lady,
And you are safe with yours."
"Who is that lady, my Lord,
That welcomes you and me?
Before I'm long about the Place,
Her friend I mean to me."
Fair Annie served the wedding feast,
And smiled upon them all;
But before the healths went round
Her tears began to fall.
When night was late and dance was done,
All the guests were off for bed;
After the groom and the bonny bride
In one bed they had laid,
Fair Annie took a banjo in her hand.
To play the two to sleep;
But ever as she played and sang,
O sorely she did weep.
"But if my sons were seven rats
Running over the milk-house wall,
And I were a great gray cat,
How I would worry them all!
"But if my sons were seven grey foxes
Running over those brushy hills,
And I myself a good fox hound,
I soon would chase their fill.
"But if my sons were seven buck deer
Drinking at the old salt-lick,
And I myself a good hunting dog,
I soon would see them kick."
Then up did speak the bonny bride
From the bride-bed where she lay:
"That's like my sister Annie," said she;
"Who is it that sings and plays?
"I'll slip on my dress," said the new come bride,
"And draw my shoes over my feet;
I will see who so sadly sings,
And what it is that makes her grief.
"O what is it ails my housekeeper,
That you make such a to-do?
Have you lost the keys from your belt,
Or is all your wedding feast gone?"
"It isn't because my keys are lost,
Or because my feast is gone;
But I have lost my own true-love,
And he has wedded another one."
"Who was your father, tell me,
And who then was your mother?
And had you any sister?" she says,
"And had you any brother?"
"The Lord of Salter was my father,
The Lady of Salter was my mother;
Young Susan was my dear sister,
And Lord James was my brother."
"If the Lord of Salter was your father,
I'm sure he so was mine;
And you're O, my sister, Annie,
And my true-love is thine.
"Take your husband, my sister dear;
You were never wronged by me,
More than a kiss from his dear mouth,
As we came up the bay.
"Seven ships were loaded
Brought all my dowry with me;
And one of them will carry me home,
And six I will give to thee."