Hi,

Steve- Let's do Ripest Apple. It has about as much to do with the Died for Love theme as "Love is Teasing" - love gone bad or rotten as it may be. It floats with other Died for Love stanzas.

If you could ck the date on this broadside, I've guessed c. 1850.

From the Trinity College broadside collection comes this Irish version of Cruel Father titled, The Killarney Tragedy which was issued by John F. Nugent Printer, 35 Cook St. Dublin c. 1850s. Here's the text in full:

The Killarney Tragedy

1. Come all you men and Maiden's fair,
Unto these lines now lend an ear,
There's not a word of this you'll hear,
But each couple courting will shed a tear.

2. Down by the lakes of Killarney side,
It was there young Sally she did reside,
She was courted by her young Johnny dear,
But soon her father he came to hear.

3. Now when her father he came to know,
Like a man distracted straightway did go,
Unto his desk where his pistols lay,
And swore her Johnny he'd shoot next day.

4. Young Sally hearing her father say,
He would kill Johnny upon the next day,
Straightway she went and made no delay,
Until she came where her true lover lay.

5. Oh rise up My Johnny, and go away,
To some Lonesome Valley-- Make no delay,
For my father stamped and he bitter swore,
That he'd have you bleeding, all in your gore.

6. Oh Johnny, Johnny, I love you well
I love you better than tongue can tell,
I Love you well, but I dare not show it
Since my cruel father he came to know it.

7. Houses and Lands Johnny father has for me,
All of them you'll gain if you come with me,
At your request Love, that never shall be,
Until apples grow on an ivy tree.

8. Like a Maid distracted straightway she went
And spent that night in great discontent,
And every tear that fell from her eyes,
For my Johnny Green I will surely die.

9. Her father he being out late one night,
Johnny inquired for his heart's delight,
Upstairs he went and the door he broke,
And found her hanging with her own bed-rope.

10. He called for a knife to cut her down,
And then in her bosom a note was found,
That the whole world may plainly see,
I loved this Man but he did not love me.

11. Now since young Sally did end her life
Johnny stamped and he took a knife,
He pierced his heart and the blood did pour,
And embraced young Sally all in his gore.

12. Come dig our grave both Long and deep,
With a marble stone then to cover it,
Place in the middle a white turtle dove,
To let the world know we died for love.

13. So all young Men and Maidens fair,
I pray take warning by this sad pair,
It was sly Cupid that did pierce his heart,
Which this couple their lives to part.

This has many elements from Died for Love songs from "Till an apple grows on an ivy tree" to "Come dig our grave both long and deep." The first two stanzas are an introduction, the third is typical "Cruel Father" stanza while 4 and 5 develop the plot. Stanzas 6-10 are Cruel Father/Rambling Boy with a twist. Johnny finds her body (instead of her father) and stabs himself (similar to Silver Dagger) so the broadside ends with a double suicide. This version is unique and it adds possibilities to what is known. The plot, although developed, loses credibility when she offers him houses and land if he'll just go away with her but he rejects her (typical of Died for Love) then kills himself after she's dead (not typical of Died for Love). If he really cared so much why wouldn't he just go away with her?

Richie