Hi,

The first of two US Carpenter versions of Child 10 is from James Madison Carpenter Collection, JMC/1/7/1/C, pp. 10635-10636 (my title). It follows Child Y from Parsons, 1770. The end refrain is shortened in stanza 3 because of an extra line

Bow Down- from the singing of Becky F. Jones of Cary, North Carolina c. 1938.

1. "O sister, O sister let's take a walk,
Bow down, Bow down
O sister, O sister let's take a walk,
The bough was bent for me,
O sister, O sister let's take a walk,
To see those little ships floating about."
REFRAIN: Be true, true, be true my love,
My love will be true to me.

2. So they walked out on salty brim,
Bow down, Bow down
They walked out on salty brim,
Where the bough was bent for me,
They walked out on salty brim,
Where the oldest pushed the young one in.
REFRAIN: Be true, true, be true my love,
My love will be true to me.

3. "O sister, O sister, lend me your hand,
Bow down, bow down,
Sister, O sister, lend me your hand,
She bent and she bowed unto me,
Sister, O sister, lend me your hand,
I neither will lend you my hand not my glove,
But I will marry your own true love,
My love will be true to me.
* * * *

Richie