True Lover- Mrs. Ports (OH) 1939 Eddy B2
[From Ballads and Songs from Ohio, 1939 under the heading, The Green Fields and Meadows (Pettit).
R. Matteson 2016]
B. TRUE LOVER- From Mrs. Brady Ports, Perrysville, Ohio.
1. Come, all young men, pay strict attention
To these few lines I'm going to write;
They're just as true as ever was mention
Concerning charms a beauty bride[1].
Once I courted a fair damsel,
On her I placed my heart's delight,
Ofttimes I vowed and declared unto her
That she should make me a lawful bride.
But when my parents come to know this,
To break it up they both did strive,
Sayin', "Son, oh, son, she is too poor
To ever become your lawful bride."
But I bowed down on my knees before them,
Sayin', "Parents, oh, parents, please pity poor me,
And don't keep me from a poor heart's jurial,
For she be worth this world to me."
When this young lady came to know this,
She strolled through fields and meadows wide,
Till she come to some clear water,
And there sat down.
She drew from her side a silver dagger
And pierced it through her snow-white breast;
Oh, there she reeled, and there she staggered:
"Farewell, vain world, I'm going to rest."
And this young man been out in the water;
By chance he heard her pitiful cry;
He ran, he ran like one distracted,
Sayin', "I'm lost, I'm ruined, I'm left alone."
He picked all up this dyin' body
And rolled her over in his arms,
Sayin', "Is there no friends nor foes can save you,
Or must you die with all your charm?"
She rolled those dying eyes upon him,
Sayin', "Alas, alas, you've come too late;
Prepare to meet me on Mt. Zion
Where all of our joys would have been complete."
He picked all up this bloody weapon
And pierced it through his tender heart,
Sayin', "Oh, let this be a warning
To those who make true lovers part."
1. bright.