The Two Sisters- Hicks (NC) pre1939 Walker/Abrams Variant 1
[From The Abrams Collection--William Amos “Doc” Abrams (1905-1991) built a reputation in the 1930s as an enthusiastic collector, scholar and promoter of North Carolina folklore. "The Abrams Collection is part of Documenting Appalachia digital initiative, consists of approximately 1,100 document pages that comprise some 400 individual song titles, most of which have multiple variants."
This version is very important both in the refrain and as one the few traditional versions that include making an instrument from the dead girl's body parts, which Barry calls the "resuscitation- ritual." It is the only the 2nd US or Canadian version where the instrument reveals the murder and both the miller and eldest sister receive their punishment (see Brown C).
The refrain "gilley slaver gent the rose berry" is clearly meant to be or once was "gillyflower, gentle, rosemary." Hicks even clearly sings "Gilly flower" in verse 12 (as written by her daughter), which is enough evidence to show this is what was meant. For more information about this refrain see A. G. Gilchrist's, "A Note on the 'Herb' and Other Refrains."
In the article Gilchrist, writes:
The curious "Jury flower gent the rose berry" of one of Mr. Sharp's Appalachian songs, though at first sight a much decayed form, probably comes quite near the original in sound if not sense, for" gelofir gent " is a description, c. 1500, of the gilliflower. The line runs, in more intelligible versions, Gilliflower gentle and rosemary. The line "Gilliflower gentle or rosemary" occurs in a lyric by Sir Thomas Philipps (temp. Henry VIII) in company with " Marjoram gentle or lavender " and "Camomile, borage, or savory.
The version Sharp collected from Jane Gentry in 1916 also came from the Hicks-Harmon family. Edith Cavell Walker [Madison], 1919-1994, discovered the Mast Gap "Hicks" in the late 1930s who, according to Thomas Burton, were descended from Fanny Hicks, who was the main source of the family songs. There's more in In American Folklore: An Encyclopedia edited by Jan Harold Brunvand:
Council Harmon's grandfather on his mother's side was "Big Sammy" Hicks. Fanny Hicks (1837–1914), who was Big Sammy's granddaughter on her father's side, passed on her immense repertoire of songs to her granddaughter Nora Hicks.
The informant Nora Hicks, 1886-1953, of Sugar Grove, Watauga County, North Carolina, made several recordings for Abrams around 1940. This version was not one of them. It was written down from Hicks' singing by her daughter Addie. This seems like an ancient version and was probably learned by Hicks before 1900, but there's no way of ascertaining a date.
It's possible, through family lines, to trace the ballad back much further. The excellent version by informant Nora Hicks, 1886-1953, of Sugar Grove, Watauga County, North Carolina, was copied by her daughter Addie and sent to Abrams (or Edith Walker) around 1939. Her version came from her grandmother Fannie Hicks (1837–1914), who was Big Sammy's (Samuel Hicks 1753- 1835) granddaughter. "Big Sammy," was descended from David Hix (also spelled Hicks) whose great grandfather, also named Samuel Hicks, came from England to Virginia in 1638. In 1778 David moved to Watauga County, NC. There no way of proving when this version was learned but very likely it came to Virginia in 1638 and to North Carolina in 1778 when the family moved to the isolated region of Watauga County in the Appalachian Mountains. This version was passed from Big Sammy to Fannie Hicks to her granddaughter Nora:
There was two sisters loved one man,
Gilley flower gent the roseberry
The youngest one he loved first,
Till the jury hangs over the roseberry.
Nora's version dated 1939 is clearly an ancient version. Not every version was retained from their forebearers like the Hicks family- well known in that remote region of North Carolina for their folklore. What's even more remarkable is this version, which I would consider to be one of the most important US/Canada versions, is not even known- has not been published or talked about by folklorists.
There are few US and Canada versions that tell the tale of the harpist or fiddler that makes an instrument with strings from the murdered sister's hair and body parts. The Hicks version is one on them.
R. Matteson 2014]
The Two Sisters, Variant 1- sung by Mrs. Nora Hicks. It was copied down by Addie Hicks and given to me by Edith Walker ( W. G. G.).
1. There was two sisters loved one man,
Gilley slaver gent the roseberry [1]
The youngest one he loved first,
Till the jury[2] hangs over the roseberry.
2. As they were walking by the brook,
Gilley slaver gent the roseberry
The old one pushed the young one in
Till the jury hangs over the roseberry.
3. Sister, sister give me your hand,
Gilley slaver gent the roseberry
And you may have all my land
Till the jury hangs over the roseberry.
4. Sister, sister give me your glove
Gilley slaver gent the roseberry
And you may have the one I love
Till the jury hangs over the Roseberry.
5. She floated up she floated down
Gilley slaver gent the roseberry,
She floated in to the miller's pond, [3]
Till the jury hangs over the roseberry.
6. Out run the miller with his long hook,
Gilley slaver gent the roseberry
He drew this fair woman out of the brook,
Till the jury hangs over the roseberry.
7. It ain't a fish nor it ain't a swan
Gilley slaver gent the roseberry
He picked her up and threw her back,
Till the jury hangs over the roseberry.
8. She floated up and she floated down
Gilley slaver gent the roseberry
She floated in to the harper's pond
Till the jury hangs over the Rose Berry
9. Out run the harper with his long hook
Gilley slaver gent the roseberry
He drew this fair woman out at the brook
Till the jury hangs over the Rose berry.
10. It ain't a fish nor it ain't a swan,
Gilley slaver gent the roseberry
It is a fair woman in my pond,
Till the jury hangs over the roseberry.
11. What will we make out of her breast bone so fine,
Gilley slaver gent the roseberry?
We will make us a new fiddle to play on
All the jury hangs over the roseberry.
12. What will we make out of her fingers so small
Gilley flower gent the roseberry,
We will make us some new screws to play on
Till the jury hangs over the Rose
13. What will we make out of her hair so long
Gilley slaver gent the roseberry,
we will make us some new strings to play on
Till the jury hangs over the roseberry.
14. Up then spoke the first string,
Gilley slaver gent the roseberry
Was my sister that pushed me in,
Till the jury hangs over the roseberry.
15. Up then spoke the next string,
Gilley slaver gent the roseberry,
It was the miller who threw me back
Till the jury hangs over the roseberry.
16. The miller was hung on the gallows so high,
Gilley slaver gent the roseberry,
The sister was burnt at a stake there by,
Till the jury hangs over the roseberry.
1. written "Rose berry"
2. written "jurry"
3. written "pound"