Wow - if some Joe clone could fix that last redundant post :)

Here's a different version from Some Songs and Ballads from Tennessee and North Carolina by Isabel Gordon Carter; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 46, No. 179 (Jan. - Mar., 1933), pp. 22-50. She also collected an important version of 'Bramble Briar".


24. YOUNG MEN AND MAIDS PRAY LEND ATTENTION [1]

1. Young men and maids pray lend attention,
To these few lines I'm going to write,
Of a pretty youth how I mention
I courted a lady fair and bright.

2. But when her parents came to know it,
They strove to part us day and night;

3. Down on her bended knee she bowed,
Saying, "Father, father pity me!
Don't let my true love be denied,
Of all this world can do for me."

4. She wandered, she wandered a great way from them,
She wandered the green meadows round,
She wandered along the broad green rivers,
And under a green shady tree sat down.

5. She pulled out her silver dagger,
She pinned it through her lily white breast;
Saying "Farewell to my true lover,
Farewell, farewell I'm going to rest."

6. Her true love being on the river,
He thought he heard his true love's voice;
He ran, he ran like one distracted,
Saying, "Dear heart (?) I feel quite lost."

7. Like stars her black eyes opened,
Saying "My true love, you've come too late.
Prepare to meet me in old Zion,
Where all our joys will be complete."
Oh let this be a woeful warning
To all who keeps true lovers apart.

[1] Recorded from Lizzie Fletcher, Rugby, Tenn. The last two lines of admonition were not given until Earnest Brooks, a Rugby boy who was present, said "That isn't all--you've left off the best part." Then the singer, with many wise shakes of her head, sang the last two lines.