The Two Lovers- Myrtle Carrigan (TN) 1949 Boswell
[From Folk Songs of Middle Tennessee by Boswell edited and with notes by Charles Wolfe. Wolfe's notes follow.
Wolfe doesn't really understand the provenance of this ballad which was written about 1810 (the original has not been found) by an unknown ballad-writer based on the traditional version. An eleven stanza version was collected in Indiana and published in 1849.
R. Matteson 2016]
This version, which includes nine full stanzas, seems to have been codified before the popularity of the country versions. This is another of Myrtle Carrigan's songs; she sang it for Boswell on November 3, 1949. She could not recall exactly where she learned it, but she grew up in Smith County after being born at Payne's Bend on January 8, 1882.
The Twe Lovers (Silver Dagger)
1. A young man courted a fair young damsel;
He loved her as dear as he loved his life.
He ofttimes thought that they would marry
And she would be his own dear wife.
2. But when his parents came to know this,
They kept him away both night and day,
Saying, "Son, oh, Son, I would not have her;
She's poor, she's poor," they'd always say.
3. But when this lady came to know this,
She quickly resolved that she must die.
She went away to a lonesome valley
And there for death she did prepare.
4. She drew our a shining dagger,
Thrust it through her snowy white breast.
She reeled and then she staggered,
Saying, "Oh, my love, I'm going to rest."
5. Her lover hid close by in a thicket,
Where he could hear her sweet, sweet voice.
He ran, he ran like one distracted,
Saying, "Oh, my love, I know you are lost."
6. Her two blue eyes like stars she opened,
Saying, "Oh, my love, you've come too late.
Prepare to meet me on Mount Zion,
Where all our joys will be complete."
7. He stooped, picked up the bleeding body,
Rolled it over in his arms,
Saying, "Neither silver nor gold can save you.
Must you die in all your charms?"
B. He stooped, picked up the bloody weapon,
Thrust it through his own dear heart,
Saying, "Let this be a great, great warning
To all those who may true lovers part."
9. Double coffins were straightway directed,
And they were laid both breast to breast,
And on the silent tomb were these words:
"Here lies two lovers gone to rest."