Bluegrass Messengers

Edward- Gann (TN) 1917 Sharp D

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

R. Matteson 2012, 2014]

[What Has Come This Blood?]- Sung by Mr. Trotter Gann at Sevierville, Sevier Co., Tenn., April 15, 1917

1 What has come this blood on your shirt sleeve?
O dear love, tell me.
This is the blood of the old grey horse
That ploughed that field for me, me, me,
That ploughed that field for me.

2 It does look too pale for the old grey horse
That ploughed that field for you, you, you,
That ploughed that field for you.

3 What has come this blood on your shirt sleeve?
0 dear love, tell me.
This is the blood of the old greyhound
That traced that fox for me, me, me,
That traced that fox for me.

4 It does look too pale for the old greyhound
That traced that fox for you, you, you,
That traced that fox for you.

5 What has come this blood on your shirt sleeve?
O dear love, tell me.
This is the blood of my brother-in-law
That went away with me, me, me,
That went away with me.

6 And it's what did you fall out about?
0 dear love, tell me.
About a little bit of bush
That soon would have made a tree, etc.

7 And it's what will you do now, my love?
O dear love, tell me.
I'll set my foot in yanders ship,
And I'll sail across the sea, etc.

8 And it's when will you come back, my love?
O dear love, tell me.
When the sun sets into yanders sycamore tree,
And it's that will never be, be, be,
And it's that will never be.