Bluegrass Messengers

Yonder Sits a Humble Creature- Matilda Keene (FL) 1937 Morris

[From WPA field recordings in Alachua County (1936-1937 recording expedition) (S 1576, reel T86-220).

R. Matteson 2017]

"Yonder Sits a Humble Creature." Sung by Mrs. Matilda Keene of Newberry, Fla., recorded by Alton C. Morris, 1937. (AFS979B2) Listen: https://www.floridamemory.com/audio/folk.php

Yonder sits a humble creature,
Lily-white brow as white as snow,
I'll go court her for her beauty,
Make her answer Yes or No.

CHORUS: La la, la la la la,
La la, la la la.

"Madam I will court you for your beauty,
If you'll only entertain,
Please sit down and I'll treat you handsome
If you never come again.
CHORUS

Madam I have gold and silver,
Madam I have house and land,
Madam I have a world of pleasure
You may have at your command.
CHORUS

What cares I for your gold and silver?
What cares I for you house and land?
Nothing cares I for your world of pleasure,
All's I want is a handsome man.
CHORUS

Madam why do you brag on beauty?
Beauty's a flower that will decay,
Pull a red rose in the morning,
By the noon it will fade away.
CHORUS

The ripest apple is the soonest rotten,
The warmest love['s] the soonest cold,
Young man's dreams are so uncertain,
Pray young miss, don't you be so bold.
CHORUS