The Suffolk Miracle- Small (VA) 1918 Sharp D
[Sharp's generic title. From English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians- I; 1917 and 1932; Sharp and Campbell edited Karpeles.
Dol Small gave a second recording titled "There Was an Old and Wealthy Man," to Karpeles in 1950- a recording available from the LOC. The transcription of that second recording is below at the bottom of the page.
R. Matteson 2013]
Notes from English Folk Songs in the Southern Appalachians to No. 31. The Suffolk Miracle.
Texts without tunes:—Child, No. 272.
Each of the three tunes, A, B and C, is a variant of the carol air, "Christmas now is drawing near at hand" ( see Journal of the Folk-Song Society, v., pp. 7—11).
D. The Suffolk Miracle- Sung by Mr. ADOLPHUS GLENROY SMALL at Nellysford, Va., May 22, 1918
Heptatonic. Mixolydian.
1. There was an old and wealthy man,
He had a daughter great and grand.
She were neat, handsome, and tall,
She had a handsome face with all.
2 A many a squire came this way,
This handsome lady for to see;
But at length there were a widow's son,
'Twas found he were her chosen one.
3 It's when her folks came this to know
They sent her two thousand miles from home,
Which broke this young man's tender heart
To think that he and his love must part.
4 It were on a cold and stormy night,
He started for his heart's delight;
He rode till he came to the place he knew,
Says he: My love, I've come for you.
5 It's your father's request, your mother's heed,
I've come for you all in great speed,
And in two weeks or a little more,
I'll set you safe at your father's door.
6 They rode till they came to the old man's gate,
He did complain his head did ache.
With a handkerchief that she had out,
With it she tied his head about.
7 They rode till they came to the old man's stile,
Says he: My love, let's tarry awhile.
Alight, alight, alight, says he,
And I will put your steeds away.
8 She knocked upon her father's door,
The sight of her lover she saw no more.
It's welcome home, my child, says he.
What trusty friend hath come with thee?
9 It's the one I love, I love so well,
I love him better than tongue can tell.
Which made the hair stand on the old man's head,
To think that he'd been twelve months dead.
10 Then princes grand and judges too
Were sent for to witness this great one do [the grave's undo]
It's although he had been twelve months dead,
The handkerchief were around his head.
11 Now this is warning to young and old
Who love your children better than gold;
For if you love them give them their way
For fear that love will lead astray.
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Child Ballads in the US- edited Bronson
THE SUFFOLK MIRACLE (Child No. 272)
B1 [(a) "There Was an Old and Wealthy Man." Sung by Mr. Dol Small at Nellysford, Virginia, 1950. Recorded by Maud Karpeles and Sidney Robertson CowellJ Mr. Small was one of the singers discovered by Cecil J. Sharp and Maud Karpeles in their epoch-making tours of the Appalachians during the years 1916-18. The present song was sung to them at Nellysford, Virginia on May 22, 1918, and that version, as printed in Sharp's English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, Vol. I, pp. 264-5, shows only slight variation from the present rendition. Small's version of the song does not make it clear in stanza 3 that the lover's heart is literally, not figuratively, broken, so that he dies. Knowledge of this fact is necessary for proper appreciation of the ominous nightride, which according to tradition is performed with miraculous speed. The edifying conclusion --rather undependable, we may fear, for use in a stable society --is of course more characteristic of the broadside habit than of true stark traditional balladry, which seldom has time to point morals. . Child's notes on this ballad reveal a surprisingly wide range of analogues in tale and song across the whole face of Europe. Burger's famous poem, "Lenore," is based upon the theme.
1. There were an old and wealthy man
He had a daughter great and grand
She were neat, handsome, and tall
She had a handsome face withal.
2. There were many a guy there came this way
This handsome lady for to see
At length there were a widow's son
'T was found he were her chosen one.
3. It was when the old folks came this to know
They sent her two thousand miles from home
Which broke this young man's tender heart
To think that he and his love must part.
4. It was on the cold and stormy night
He started for his heart's delight
He rode till he came to the place he knew
Says he, my love, I've come for you.
5. It's your father's request, your mother's heed
I've come for you all in great speed
And in two weeks or a little mo'
I'll set you safe at your father's do'.
6. They rode till they came to the old man's gate
He did complain his head did ache
With a handkerchief that she had out
With it she bound his head about.
7. They rode till they came to the old man's stile
Says he, my love, let's tarry awhile
Alight, alight, alight, says she,
And I will put your steeds away.
8. She knocked upon her father's do'
The sight of her lover she saw no mo'
It's welcome home, my child, says he,
What trusty friend has come for thee.
9. It's the one I love, I love so well
I love him better than tongue can tell.
It made the hair stand on the old man's head
To think that he'd been twelve months dead.
10. Then princes grand and judges, too
Summons'd for to witness this grave's undo
It's though he had been twelve months dead
Her handkerchief were around his head.
11. Now this is warning to young and old
Who love their children better than gold
If you love them, give them their way
For fear their love may lead astray.