Bluegrass Messengers

US & Canada Versions: 83. Child Maurice

[The only US & Canada text, Gil Morissy, is a fragment from the recitation of Mrs. S. Walters, Rocky Harbour, NL, 1920, as published in Greenleaf and Mansfield, Ballads Sea Songs Newfoundland, p. 25.

Theme: A lady receives a letter from Gil Morissy and is so pleased  her husband gets very jealous. He goes outside and finds the youth combing  his yellow hair, challenges him to a battle, and kills him. The lady, who was the boy's mother, laments over the grave. The husband regrets his rash act  on hearing the lament.

R. Matteson 2012, 2015]

CONTENTS:

1) Gil Morissy- Walters, Rocky Harbour, NL, 1920
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Gil Morissy- from the recitation of  Mrs. S. Walters, Rocky Harbour, NL from 1920.

1. "Here's a letter sent from Giles Morissy,
Sent carefully by me,
Here's a letter sent from Giles Morissy,
For to let no one see,"

2. "If it's a letter from Gil Morissy
It's welcome by me."

The lady's husband overheard these words and was jealous of Gil Morissy so he went out and,

3. He saw a youth on his milk-white steed,
Combing out his yellow hair.

He challenged him to a fight and killed him. The lady went out and made this lament over his grave, for he was her son.

4. I nursed you up in the good greenwoods,
Beneath all grief and shame,

5. I've sat you down in the cradle
And rocked you fast sleep.
And now I sit by your grave,
And bitter tears do weep.

The husband repiled:

6. If I'd have known Gil Morissy was your son,
He'd never been slain by me.