Young Collins- Walsh (NC) 1934 Niles B
[John Jacob Niles, the Ballad Book, 1961. This version seems like a re-creation.
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
Young Collins- As sung by Charles Walsh (Hickory, NC) July, 1934. Niles B
1 One morning, one morning, one morning in May,
The fields were all a-flower.
Young Collins came riding down out of the north,
A-seekin' sweet Mattie Belle's bower.
2. They walked across the flower fields,
They walked close side by side,
They sat and talked as lovers will,
All on the salt sea side.
3. Young Collins snatched Mattie about the waist,
He kissed from cheek to chin,
'Twas then the sea-maids come up the bank
And pulled Young Collins in.
4 Now Collins swam and Collins ran,
And Collins tinkled the bell.
His mother gave him gruel and wine,
He died ere he got well.
5 Young Collins died like it was today,
Mattie Belle died of a morrow.
Five dabblin' girls and three maids of the sea
Died of purest sorrow.
6 Oh, see yon lonesome little dove,
How it will weep and pine.
Today they mourn o'er Collins so young,
Tomorrow o'er ladies nine.