Willie and Minnie- Kittie Rubey (CO) pre1901 Tyree
[From: Colorado Folksong Bulletin - Volume 3 - Page 37; 1964. Their notes follow.
R. Matteson 2016]
Contributed in MS and sung on tape by Rubey Brookshire of Colorado Springs, CO during April 1963. Learned from her aunt Mrs. Wave Tucker and from her mother Mrs. Fern Brookshire. They learned the song from their mother Kittie Daniel Rubey, who learned it about the middle of the nineteenth century while she was a girl in Missouri. She said that a young man serenaded his lady with such songs. She brought "Willie and Minnie" to Colorado in 1901. Recorded by Professor Woodson Tyree, of Colorado College.
Willie and Minnie- sung on tape by Rubey Brookshire of Colorado Springs, CO during April 1963.
"Oh, Minnie, my love, go ask your mother
If you my wedded bride may be.
If she says no, then come and tell me,
And no more will I trouble thee."
"Oh, Willie, my dear, I dare not ask her,
For she'd say that never can be —
That you may go and find another.
Perhaps there's one more fair than me."
"Oh, Minnie, my love, go ask your father
If you my wedded bride may be.
And if he says no, then come and tell me,
And no more will I trouble thee."
"Oh, Willie, dear, I dare not ask him.
For he'd say that never can be —
That you may go and court another.
Perhaps there's one more dear than me."
"Oh, I can climb the tallest tree, love;
I can rob the prettiest nest.
I can court the fairest maiden,
But not the one that I love best."
Then Willie drew a silver dagger,
Pierced it through his aching breast,
Saying, "Farewell to Minnie, my love, oh.
Farewell, farewell, I'm going to rest."
Then Minnie drew the bloody weapon —
Thrust it through her snowy white breast,
Saying, "Farewell to home and mother,
Farewell, farewell, we're both at rest."