Well Met, Well Met- Jacobs (WI) 1933 Treat JAF
[From: Kentucky Folksong in Northern Wisconsin by Asher E. Treat; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 52, No. 203 (Jan. - Mar., 1939), pp. 1-51.
Robert F. Draves recorded Pearl Jacobs Borusky for the LOC at Antigo, Wisconsin, in 1940 (see notes/transcription at bottom of this page). Compare with Treat's who also gives the music score-- not much different seven years later.
R. Matteson 2013]
48. WELL MET, WELL MET, MY OLD TRUE LOVE Sung by Mrs. M. G. Jacobs (Borusky), September, 1933, and again, September 6, 1938. Cf. Sharp, The Daemon Lover. Mrs. Jacobs learned this song from her mother.
1. "Well met, well met, my old true love.
Well met, well met," said he.
"I have just returned from the salt, salt sea;
And 'twas all for the sake of thee,
And 'twas all for the sake of thee."
2. "I once could have married a king's daughter fair,
And she would have married me.
But I refused that rich crown of gold,
And it's all for the sake of thee."
3. "If you could have married a king's daughter fair
I'm sure you're much to blame,
For I am married to a house carpenter,
And I think he's a fine young man."
4. "If you'll forsake your house carpenter
And go along with me,
I will take you where the grass grows green,
On the banks of the Sweet Willee
On the banks of the Sweet Liberty.
5. "If I forsake my house carpenter
And go along with thee,
What have you got for my support,
And to keep me from slavery?"
6. "I have six ships sailing on the sea,
The seventh one at land,
And if you'll come and go with me
They shall be at your command."
7. She took her babe into her arms
And gave it kisses three,
Saying, "Stay at home, my pretty little babe
For to keep your father company."
8. She dressed herself in rich array
To exceed all others in the town,
And as she walked the streets around
She shone like a glittering crown.
9. They had not been on board more than two weeks,
I'm sure it was not three,
Until she began to weep
And she wept most bitterly.
10. "Are you weeping for your houses and your land,
Or are you weeping for your store,
Or are you weeping for your house carpenter
You never shall see any more?"
11. "I'm not weeping for my houses nor my land,
Nor I'm not weeping for my store,
But I'm weeping for my pretty little babe
I never shall see any more."
12. They had not been on board more than three weeks,
It was not four I'm sure, [1]
Until at length the ship sprung a leak,
And she sank to arise no more.
13. "A curse, a curse to all sea men!
A curse to a sailor's life!
For they have robbed me of my house carpenter
And taken away my life."
My footnote:
1. (to rhyme) I'm sure it was not four
--------------------------
CHILD BALLADS TRADITIONAL IN THE UNITED STATES Edited by Bertrand H. Bronson
JAMES HARRIS or THE DAEMON LOVER (Child No. 243)
A4 [(c) "Well Met, My Old True Love." Sung by Mrs. Pearl Jacobs Borusky at Antigo, Wisconsin, 1940. Recorded by Robert F. Draves. Mrs. Borusky's version, brought from the Appalachians, tells a connected story that is in no need of explanation, having its counterpart in everyday's newspapers. For some reason, this ballad, no longer much sung in Britain, has in America been very well-liked and frequently collected. The Englishbroadside tradition, dating from the seventeenth century (as from Plymouth), is what has been perpetuated here, but there are much more impressive Scottish forms. Of these the most famous is called "The Daemon Lover" in Scott's Minstrelsy, wherein the seducer turns supernatural on the voyage, with dismal countenance and "drumlie ee." After showing his cloven hoof, he strikes the topmast with his hand, the foremast with his knee, breaking the gallant ship to pieces. As the song is ordinarily sung, it is redeemed from"cheapness by its fine melody.
1. Well met, well met, my old true love
Well met, well met, said he.
I have just returned from the salt, salt sea
And it's all for the sake of thee
And it's all for the sake of thee.
2. I once could have married a king's daughter fair
And she would have married me
But I refused that rich crown of gold
And it's all for the sake of thee
And it's all for the sake of thee.
3. If you could have married a king's daughter fair,
I'm sure you are much to blame
For I am married to a house carpenter
And I think he's a fine young man,
And I think he's a fine young man.
4. If you'll forsake your house carpenter
And go along with me
I will take you where the grass grows green
On the banks of the sweet Willie
On the banks of the sweet Willie.
5. If I forsake my house carpenter
And go along with thee
What have you got for my support
And to keep me from slavery?
And to keep me from slavery?
6. I have six ships upon the sea
And the seventh one at land
And if you come and go with me
They shall be at your command
They shall be at your command.
7. She took her babe into her arms
And gave it kisses three
Saying, stay at home my pretty little babe
To keep your father company.
To keep your father company.
8. She dressed herself in rich array
To exceed' all others in the town
And as she walked the streets around
She shone like a glittering crown.
She shone like a glittering crown.
9. They had not been on board more than two weeks
I'm sure it was not three
Until one day she began to weep
And she wept most bitterly.
And she wept most bitterly.
10. O are you weeping for your houses or your land
Or are you weeping for your store
Or are you weeping for your house carpenter
You never shall see any more
That you never shall see any more
11. I'm not weeping for my houses or my land
Nor I'm not weeping for my store
But I am weeping for my pretty little babe
I never shall see any more
I never shall see any more.
12. They had not been on board more than three weeks
It was not four, I am sure
Until at length the ship sprung a leak
And she sunk to arise no more.
And she sunk to arise no more.
13. A curse, a curse to all seamen
And a curse to a sailor's wife
For they have robbed me of my house carpenter
And have taken away my life
And have taken away my life.