The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #35557   Message #488625
Posted By: Malcolm Douglas
21-Jun-01 - 06:44 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Seeking Irish Lyrics II
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seeking Irish Lyrics II
Edward is Professor Child's number #13; two versions may be found in the DT:

EDWARD  Set with tune; adapted by Burl Ives from a traditional version noted by Cecil Sharp in Appalachia.
EDWARD BALLAD  With tune; noted by Helen H. Flanders from George Edwards of Burlington, VT.

Neither of these is the set recorded by The Old Blind Dogs.  That particular text, so far as I can tell from the bits Rebecca quoted, are not to be found on the net: it is, I think, given in the sleevenotes to their CD, so anybody round here who has it might like to chip in.  It would be interesting to know where they got it.  Meanwhile, here are references to some traditional examples available (as usual, I include only stable sites which quote their sources properly):

At Lesley Nelson's  Folk Music of England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and America:

Edward  Set with tune; adapted by Burl Ives from a traditional version noted by Cecil Sharp in Appalachia.

Edward  Versions A-C from the English and Scottish Popular Ballads. (Texts only).

Edward  7 versions found by Cecil Sharp in the Southern Appalachians. (Texts only).

The Murdered Brother  Text and tune of a variant noted by John Jacob Niles in Saluda, North Carolina, 1934 (perhaps).

There is an entry at the  Traditional Ballad Index:

Edward [Child 13]

Three sets from America are available at the  Max Hunter Folk Song Collection:

Edward  As sung by May Kennedy-McCord in Springfield, Missouri on September 23, 1958.

How Come That Blood On Your Coat Sleeve  As sung by Mr. Clyde Johnson in Fayettville, Arkansas on October 1, 1958.

What Is That Blood On Your Coat Sleeve  As sung by Mr. C. W. Ingenthron in Walnut Shade, Missouri on November 19, 1958.