Youthful Warning- Doug Wallin (NC) 1983 Yates B
[From: Far in the Mountains Volume 3 and 4; Mike Yates. His notes follow.
R. Matteson 2016]
Doug's mother, Berzilla Wallin, was about 22 years old when Cecil Sharp and Maud Karpeles visited Madison County in 1916. Berzilla did not sing for Sharp, although many of her relatives did so. Berzilla's sister, Zipporah Rice, for example gave Sharp a version of Lord Bateman. According to Berzilla, the people were scared of Sharp because they thought that he was there to secretly map the area on behalf of the water authority. It was believed at the time that a dam was to be build, and the land flooded, so that a reservoir could be established to provide water to the nearby town of Marshall. As Berzilla says, though, the people soon learnt of Sharp's real intentions and their attitude towards him softened. (Incidentally, it was Sharp who took down the tunes and his assistant, Maud Karpeles, who noted the words.)
Notes to this song will be found on Volume 2, track 36, of this set, where a version - titled The Truelover's Warning - is sung by Evelyn Ramsey.
Youthful Warning (Laws G21, Roud 711); Sung by Doug Wallin at his home at Crane Branch, Madison County, NC on May 23, 1983.
A young man courted a handsome lady,
He loved her dear as he loved his life.
And unto him she made this promise,
That she would be his lawful wife.
As soon as his parents came to know this,
They strove to part them night and day.
Saying, 'Son, oh son, can't you remember
That she is poor', they would often say.
As soon as the lady came to know this,
She soon made up what she would do.
She wandered forth and left the city,
The green wild rose no more to be.
And coal black eyes like stars she opened,
Saying, 'Love, oh love, you've come too late.
Prepare to meet me on Mount Zion,
For you will always find me there.'
Then he picked up that bloody dagger,
And stabbed it to his own true heart.
Saying, 'Let this be a youthful warning,
That all true lovers shall never part.'