Hi,

This is a long version from Traditional Ballads and Folk Songs Mainly from West Virginia by Cox, 1939. Also in West Virginia Songbag - p. 71 by Jim F. Comstock - 1974.


16 - THE MERCHANT'S DAUGHTER
(The Bramble Briar)

Communicated by Miss Frances Sanders, Morgantown, Monongalia County, June 24, 1924. Also, under title of "The Squire's Daughter," stanzas 11, 14, and 15, obtained from Miss Emma Hewitt. Music noted by Miss Sanders.

[Branberry Briars]

1. In Portrast Town there lived a merchant,
Who had two sons and a daughter fair;
And an apprentice, borned in a foreign country,
All for to cross that Atlantic shore.

2. Ten thousand pounds was the fair maid's portion,
She was a meek and comely dame;
On this young man who plowed the ocean,
She had a mind to bestow the same.

3. One night as they sat still a-courting,
Her brothers drawed for to overhear,
Saying, "We'll put an end to all their courtship,
And part her from her dearest friend."

4. Now to begin this cruel murder,
A-hunting these two villains go;
And on this young man who plowed the ocean,
They flattered him with them to go.

5. They hunted over hills and mountains;
And through the place where it was alone,
Until they came to some brand-berry briars,
That's where they did kill him and threw[1].

6. When they went home their sister asked them,
"What have you done with your servant man?"
"Ye lost him in the game of hunting,
And nothing more of him could we find."

7. That night as she lay still a-weeping,
Her true love came to her bedside and stood
All wallowed over in tears and weeping,
All covered over with gores of blood.

8. Leave off, leave off, it is folly
For you to weep for me and pine;
Your brothers were so hard hearted
They've killed me in such a place you may find."

9. Twas early, early the next morning
That she arose at the break of day.
She dressed herself in her rich attirement[2],
And to hunt for her true love she went straight-away.

10. She hunted over high hills and mountains,
And through the place where it was alone,
Until she came to those brand-berry briars,
That's where they had him killed and thrown.

11. His red cheeks had lost their blood,
His ruby lips were salt as brine;
she kissed then over and ten times over,
Saying, "This dear bosom friend of mine."

12. She laid herself down by the side of him,
Her tender heart filled with grief and woe,
Until she left sharp hunger creeping,
Which forced her back home to go.

13. When she went home her brothers asked her,
"What makes you look so pale and thin?"
"Oh, you cruel and hard hearted villains,
For this alone you both shall hang."

14. Now to escape this cruel murder
A-sailing these two villains go;
Hark, my friend until tomorrow
How the raging wind did blow

15. The wind did blow, it was no wonder,
It sank the ship into the deep,
One wide wave that washed them under,
The raging sea proved to be their grave.


1. thrown
2."array" or even "attire"