Hi,

My title, this is a version of Johnny Collins (see Bayard's article) and is not related to the ballad titled, Young Collins. From Folk Song from Newfoundland, also Karpeles MSS., No. 5135; text, p. 464 as found in Bronson No. 36.

This is an important link with the Appalachian versions titled Johnny Collins and the 1906 Hampshire versions, titled George Collins. Notice in stanza 2 that the "mermaid," represented in human form as a pretty fair girl in stanza 1, dreams he is dead,

[Young Collins] - Sung by Mrs. Mary Tibbs, Trinity, Newfoundland, September 13, 1929.

1. As I roved out one morning in May
The meadows they were in full bloom
A-watching the stone a pretty fair girl[1]
A-watching[2] the marble stone.

2. She holloaed, she bollowed, she screamed with her might
She wrung her slim hands to the stars,
To the stars from heaven was twinkling down,
And she dreamed Young Collins was dead.

3. Collins he went to his own father's door,
Long hours before it was day:
O rise, O rise, dear father, he cried,
Rise and let me in.

4. His own true love came to the door,
Whose corpse is this? she cried,
It's the corpse of Young Collins, she said,
An old true love of mine.

5. Bring in the corpse, she said,
I'll tie it with ribbons so fine.
I'll take the last from his clear cold lips
Where ten thousand times he kissed mine.

6. [ . . .] Bring in the sheet [3]
Till I fix it with linen so fine
To-day it lies over Young Collins, she said,
And tomorrow it will be over mine.

7. The news went out in old Dublin's town,
And hung upon Dublin's gate.
There's six pretty maids a' died that night,
'Twas all for Young Collins' sake.

8. If I shall die this very same night,
I'd die, I hope and I will.
Bring me under the old green tree,
Where Young Collins' body did dwell.

1. This line is corrupt. This girl represents the mermaid in human form and ties to Child 42
2. usually "A-Washing"
3. Possibly missing "Open the coffin" at the beginning of the line. It makes sense that something is missing in this stanza- I've changed it from 3 lines to the standard 4 lines.

Richie