Bluegrass Messengers

[What Blood?] Edward- Gibson (NC) 1918 Sharp J

[My title. From English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians by Sharp/Karpeles I, 1932, with music.

R. Matteson 2012, 2014]

[What Blood?]- Sung by Mrs. Mary Gibson at Marion, N.C., Sept. 3, 1918

1 What blood is that all on your shirt?
O son, come tell to me.
It is the blood of the old grey mare
That ploughed the corn for me, O me,
That ploughed the corn for me.

2 It is too red for the old grey mare.
0 son, etc.
It is the blood of the old grey hound
That run the deer for me, etc.

3 It is too red for the old grey hound.
It is the blood of the little guinea-pig
That eat the corn for me.

4 It is too red for the little guinea-pig.
It is the blood of my oldest brother
That travelled along with me.

5 What did you fall out about?
About a little holly bush
That might have made a tree.

6 What will you do when your father comes home?
I'll set my foot in a bunkum boat
And sail all on the sea.

7 What will you do with your pretty little wife?
I'll take her on a bunkum boat
And sail along with me.

8 What will you do with your oldest son?
I'll leave him here for you to raise
And dance around your knees.

9 What will you do with your oldest daughter?
I'll leave her here for you to raise
For to remember me.