Lyr Req: Edmund and Emily / Young Emily

Subject: Lyr Add: YOUNG EMILY (from Elizabeth LaPrelle)
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Aug 14 - 01:46 PM

Elizabeth LaPrelle also sings a version of this song, although pretty different in tune from the ones mentioned here, it's still a beautiful song.

Young Emily was a fair maid.
She loved a driver boy
He drove in the main for some gold to gain
Way down in the lowlands low

My father runs a public house
Down by yon river side
Come ye, come ye and enter in
And there this night abide

Oh please, don't tell them nothing
Don't you ever let them know
That your name it is young Edmund
Who drove in the lowlands low

Young Edmund fell to drinking
From drinking into bed
Said he did not know his sword that night
Would part his neck and head

Young Emily rose in the morning
She's a putting on her clothes
Said I'm going to look for my driver boy
Who drove in the lowlands low

Oh father, my dear father
You've got to let me know
What's happened to my driver boy
Who drove in the lowlands low

Oh daughter my dear daughter
Don't you speak so loud and free
His gold is all for us to claim
And his body's in the sea

Oh father, cruel father
I'll have you hung a public show
For the murdering of my driver boy
Who drove in the lowlands low

See the coach on yonder mountain
It's a moving to and fro
It reminds me of my driver boy
Who drove in the lowlands low

My true love's laying in the ocean
The fish swims o'er his breast
His body's in a gentile motion
I pray that his soul's at rest

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Edmund and Emily / Young Emily
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 05:05 AM

Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry on this song:

Edwin (Edmund, Edward) in the Lowlands Low [Laws M34]

DESCRIPTION: Edwin, now rich, returns to his sweetheart after years at sea. At her advice, he goes to her father's inn in disguise. Her father murders him for his money. The girl learns the truth and turns in her father, who is executed
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1839 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 11(2031))
KEYWORDS: murder father money execution love punishment separation
FOUND IN: US(Ap,MA,MW,NE,SE,So) Canada(Mar,Newf) Britain(England(Lond,South),Scotland(Aber)) Ireland
REFERENCES (27 citations):
Laws M34, "Edwin (Edmund, Edward) in the Lowlands Low"
Belden, pp. 127-128, "Edwin in the Lowlands Low" (1 text)
Randolph 140, "Young Edmond Dell" (3 texts, 3 tunes)
BrownII 79, "Young Edwin in the Lowlands Low" (2 texts)
Chappell-FSRA 36, "Amy and Edward" (1 text, 1 tune)
Brewster 35, "Young Edwin in the Lowlands Low" (1 text)
Gardner/Chickering 12, "He Ploweed the Lowlands Low" (1 text)
Peters, p. 194, "My Father Keeps a Public House" (1 text, 1 tune)
SharpAp 56, "Edwin in the Lowlands Low" (11 texts, 11 tunes)
Creighton/Senior, pp. 220-222, "Young Edmund of the Lowlands" (1 text, 1 tune)
Peacock, pp. 641-642, "Young Edmond of the Lowlands Low" (1 text, 1 tune)
Karpeles-Newfoundland 32, "Edwin in the Lowlands Low" (1 text, 1 tune)
Flanders/Brown, pp. 106-108, "Young Edmon Bold" (1 text, 1 tune; the text, from manuscript, is slightly damaged as well as very curiously written)
Mackenzie 27, "Young Edmund" (1 text)
Leach, pp. 703-705, "Young Edwin in the Lowlands Low" (2 texts)
Wyman-Brockway II, p. 42, "Young Edward" (1 text, 1 tune)
FSCatskills 49, The Lowlands Low" (1 text, 1 tune)
Warner 57, "The Ploughboy of the Lowlands" (1 text, 1 tune)
Greig #123, p. 1, "Young Emma" (1 text, a composite)
GreigDuncan2 189, "Young Emma" (11 texts, 10 tunes)
Vaughan Williams/Lloyd, pp. 106-107, "Young Edwin in the Lowlands Low (1 text, 1 tune)
Wiltshire-WSRO Wt 441, "Down in the Lowlands Low" (1 text)
SHenry H113, p. 434, "Young Edward Bold/The Lowlands Low" (1 text, 1 tune)
Morton-Ulster 32, "Young Edwin in the Lowlands Low" (1 text, 1 tune)
JHCox 106, "Young Edwin in the Lowlands Low" (1 text)
Darling-NAS, pp. 120-121, "Young Emily" (1 text)
DT 330, EDWRDLOW*
Roud #182
RECORDINGS:
Harry Cox, "Young Edmund" (on Voice17)
Ollie Gilbert, "The Diver Boy (Edwin in the Lowlands Low)" (on LomaxCD1701)
Geordie Hanna, "Young Edmund in the Lowlands Low" (on Voice03)
Louis Killen, "Young Edwin in the Lowlands" (on ESFB2)
Maggie Murphy, "Young Edmund" (on IRHardySons)
Doug Wallin, "Young Emily" (on Wallins1) (on Chandler01)
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 11(2031), "Young Edwin in the Lowlands Low," J. Catnach (London), 1813-1838; also Firth c.12(289), Johnson Ballads 214, Harding B 15(394a), Harding B 11(1459), Firth c.12(301), Harding B 11(4363), Harding B 11(4361), "Young Edwin in the Lowlands Low"; Harding B 11(1433), "Young Edmund in the Lowlands Low"; Harding B 11(4362)[some lines illegible], "Young Edwin in the Low-Lands Low"; Harding B 25(2133), Harding B 16(315b), "Young Edwin of the Lowlands Low"
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Lovely Willie" [Laws M35] (plot)
cf. "Come All You Worthy Christians" (tune)
cf. "Dives and Lazarus" (tune)
cf. "The Lover's Curse (Kellswater)" (themes)
SAME TUNE:
Bushes and Briars (per broadsides Bodleian Harding B 11(2031), Bodleian Johnson Ballads 214, Bodleian Harding B 11(1459))
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Young Emma
Young Amy
Ploughman Boy
NOTES: In Harry Cox's version on Voice17, Emma -- after singing the "shells in the ocean" verse found in "I Never Will Marry" -- then "sick and broken-hearted to Bedlam had to go, And her shrieks were of young Edmund who ploughed the lowland low." In that, and most of the rest of its text, it follows the Bodleian broadsides. Newfoundland versions -- all from the northern Avalon Peninsula -- seem based on the broadsides, keep or modify the "shells in the ocean" verse, and drop the Bedlam verse (which, I suppose, has no local meaning); see Karpeles-Newfoundland 32, Peacock, pp. 641-642 [the verse is almost unrecognizable] and "Young Edmund in the Lowlands" in Songs of Newfoundland at the "MacEdward Leach and Songs of Atlantic Canada" site. A good, but not infallible, clue that the broadside version is being followed is the opening: "Come all you feeling lovers and listen to my song, While I unfold concerning gold, that guides so many wrong." Greig also has a broadside-based version that modifies "shells in the ocean" and drops the Bedlam verse (Greig 123 p. 1, "Young Emma," Folk-Song of the North-East). BS
The version in the Warner collection is unusual in that Edmund is murdered by a robber rather than by the father, and the truth does not come out for seven years. This version also makes no mention of Edmund's money. - RBW
Last updated in version 2.6
File: LM34

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Subject: ADD Version: EDMUND AND EMILY (from Jody Stecher)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 04:51 AM

EDMUND AND EMILY
(as sung by Jody Stecher)

Young Emily, being a servant girl, She loved the driver bold
Who ploughed the Main, much gold to gain, For Emily, we are told.
He lent it to his Emily, his fortune for to show,
And gold he gained down on the Main And ploughed the lowland low.

My father keeps a boarding house On yonder river side.
And go ye there and enter in, And there this night abide.
Be sure you tell him nothing, Nor let my father know
That your name it is young Edmund That ploughed the lowland low.

Young Edmund fell to drinking And all his gold he did show.
Says Emily's cruel father, This gold will be your foe.
Yes, this gold, says Emily's father, It will be your overthrow.
For I'll send your body sinking Into the lowlands low.

Young Edmund he did go to bed, And scarce had fell asleep,
When Emily's cruel father Into his room he did creep.
And so early in the morning, To the water he did go,
And he sent his body sinking Into the lowlands low.

Young Emily in her chamber, She dreamed an awful dream.
She dreamed she saw young Edmund's blood Go flowing like a stream.
And early in the morning To her father's house she did go,
Because she loved him dearly, Who ploughed the lowlands low.

Oh, father, where's that stranger, Come here last night to dwell?
His body's in the ocean, And you no tales must tell.
Then father, cruel father, You'll die a public show
For the murder of young Edmund Who ploughed the lowland low.

Away then to the counselor To let the counsel know
Of the murder of her driver boy That ploughed the lowlands low.
Her father's tried and sentenced And he died a public show
For the murder of young Edmund dear That ploughed the lowland low.

The fish that swim the ocean Play o'er my Edmund's breast.
He rocks in constant motion, I hope his soul's at rest.
His coat's on yonder mountain It tosses to and fro
It minds me of my driver boy Who ploughed the lowland low.


from the singing of Jody Stecher
Album: Oh the Wind and Rain

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Edmund and Emily / Young Emily
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 04:26 AM

My favourite version of the ballad:

The Diver Boy - As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on May 26, 1969

And our own version of same:

http://soundcloud.com/winterflora/the-diver-boy-22-10-11

Subject: Lyr Add: YOUNG EDMUND IN THE LOWLANDS LOW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 10:22 PM

Here's an older version of this song:

Anonymous
Recorded by Paul Brady on
Welcome Home Kind Stranger
LUN 024, Mulligan Music LTD, © 1978

YOUNG EDMUND IN THE LOWLANDS LOW

Young Emily being a servant girl,
Her lover a sailor bold,
He ploughed the main much gold to gain
For Emily, we are told.
When seven long years had passed and gone,
He did return home;
He landed to his Emily
And all his gold did show,
That he had gained down on the main,
And ploughed the Lowlands Low.

Her Father kept a public house,
It stood down by the sea,
"Young Edmund, you can enter there
And all night you can stay;
And I'll meet you here tomorrow,
But don't let my Father know
That your name it is young Edmund
That ploughed the Lowlands Low."

As Edmund he did enter there,
And all his gold did show –
Says Emily's cruel Father,
"This gold will be your foe,
For I'll send your body sinkin',
Down in the Lowlands Low."

As Edmund he did go to bed
And scarce had fell asleep,
When Emily's cruel Father
Into his room did creep –
Then early the next morning
To the beach, sure he did go,
And he sent his body sinkin'
Down in the Lowlands Low.

Young Emily on her pillow lay,
She had a frightful dream –
She dreamt she saw her young Edmund
Lying in a crystal stream;
Then early the next morning
To her Father's house did go,
All because she loved him dearly
That ploughed the Lowlands Low.

Sayin', "Father, where's that stranger
Who came last night to lie?"
"Oh, he is dead, no tales he'll tell,"
Her Father did reply.
"Then, Father, cruel Father,
You will die a public show
For the murder of young Edmund
That ploughed the Lowlands Low."

And Emily's cruel Father
Could not day or night get rest;
For the cruel deed that he had done,
He therefore did confess;
He was tried and he was sentenced,
And he died a public show,
For the murder of young Edmund Deares
That ploughed the Lowlands Low.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Edmund and Emily / Young Emily
From: GUEST,fluxusfrequency
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 09:22 PM

Thanks Joe.

The second version is very close to what I hear from Jody Stecher. It's only missing a couple of verses about Edmund revealing his gold at her father's house.

Thanks again.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Edmund and Emily / Young Emily
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 07:17 PM

I ran out of time and probably won't be able to transcribe the song today. Maybe I'll have time tomorrow. The two songs above are very similar.

-Joe-

Subject: ADD Version: YOUNG EMILY (from Doug Wallin)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 05:35 PM

YOUNG EMILY

Young Emily was a pretty fair miss,
She loved the driver boy,
Who drove the stage some gold to get,
Down in the lowlands low.

"My father owns a boarding house,
Along yon riverside,
Go there, go there and enter in,
This night with me abide.

"Be sure you tell them nothing,
Nor let my parents know,
That your name is young Edmund,
Who drove the lowlands low."

Young Edmund fell to drinking,
Until he went to bed,
He did not know a sword that night
Would part his neck and head.

Young Emily in her chamber,
She had an awful dream,
She dreamed she saw young Edmund's blood,
Go flowing like a stream.

Young Emily rose in the morning,
Putting on her clothes,
She's going to find her driver boy,
Who drove the lowlands low.

"Oh father, where's that stranger,
Came here last night to dwell?"
"His body's in the ocean,
And you no tale must tell."

"Oh father, oh dear father,
You'll die a public show,
For the murdering of my driver boy,
Who drove the lowland low."

Away then to some counselor,
To let the deed be known,
Of the murdering of her driver boy,
Who drove the lowlands low.

Them fish that swim in the ocean,
Swim o'er my true love's breast,
His body's in a gentle motion,
And I hope his soul's at rest.

Them coats that hang on the mountains,
They look so blue and true,
They remind me of my driver boy,
Who drove in the lowland low.


...as sung by Doug Wallin, Sodom, Madison County, N.C.

Source: Family Songs and Stories from the North Carolina Mountains Smithsonian Folkways recording by Doug and Jack Wallin SFW40013

Subject: ADD Version: YOUNG EMILY (from Betty Smith)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 05:11 PM

Hi, Fluxus -
I'll see if I can work up a Jody Stecher transcription later, but here's another version of the song - you'll find others in the crosslinked threads listed above.

This one is from a Folk-Legacy album titled Betty Smith - Songs Traditionally Sung in North Carolina


Side 1, Band 1. YOUNG EMILY

This broadside ballad is sometimes called "The Driver Boy," "The Drover Boy," "Young Edwin in the Lowlands," among others.
It is pretty widely known and sung in Madison County, North Carolina, but this version which I learned from Obray Ramsay is my favorite. Obray is such a good ballad singer and the first time I heard him sing this one I sat down and learned it. Sometimes Obray and I have sung it, alternating verses and vying for the singing of the "best" last verse.


YOUNG EMILY

Young Emily was a pretty fair miss.
She loved a driver boy
Who drove the stage from the Golden Gate,
Way down in the lowlands low, my love,
Way down in the lowlands low.

My father owns a boarding house
Along yon river side.
Go there, go there and enter in,
This night with me abide, my love,
This night with me abide.

Be sure you tell tham nothing,
Nor even let them know
That your name is young Edmund
Who drove in the lowlands low, my love,
Who drove in the lowlands low.

Young Edmund took to drinking
Before he went to bed.
He did not know they'd sworn that night
That they would cut off his head, my love,
That they would cut off his head,

Young Emily in her chambers,
She had this awful dream.
She dreamed she saw young Edmund's blood
Go flowing like a stream* my love*
Go flowing like a stream.

Oh, father, my dear father,
You'll die a public show
For the murdering of the driver boy
Way down in the lowlands low, my love,
Way down in the lowlands low.

The fish that swim in the ocean
Swim o'er my true love's breast.
His body's in a gentle motion,
And I know his soul's at rest, my love,
I know his soul's at rest.

Subject: Lyr Req: Edmund and Emily
From: GUEST,fluxusfrequency
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 03:44 PM

Looking for the lyrics to Edmund and Emily from Jody Stecher's Oh the Wind and Rain CD.