Origins: Edmond Dell (lowlands low)

Subject: Origins: Edmond Dell (lowlands low)
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 26 Apr 20 - 10:10 PM

Hi folks- trying to locate versions of Edmond/Edmund/ Edwin in the Lowlands (low) where he is called "Edmond Dell" or "Edmund L", the identifying feature being the "L" or "Dell".

There are dozens of versions of this song, but I have only found this feature in a variant sung by a man in York, Maine in 1947 and apparently 3 versions in Randolph's Ozark folksongs (which I have not actually seen)

In the Maine variant, the lyrics are pretty standard, but the singer clearly sings "Edmund L who plows the lowlands low"

Would love to identify the source of this anomaly

Thanks

Subject: RE: Origins: Edmond Dell (lowlands low)
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 27 Apr 20 - 04:16 PM

Would the following be of any use to you?

https://digitalcollections.uark.edu/digital/collection/OzarkFolkSong

Subject: RE: Origins: Edmond Dell (lowlands low)
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 27 Apr 20 - 05:26 PM

Thanks starship!

just to update, I did fine Edmon Dell in VT and NH
and Eadmondale in Ballads and Folksongs of the Southwest and a reference to Edmon Doe...
I guess my questions are "why would anyone add this surname?",
could this be the original iteration" and "are these versions related and if so how and why?"

Any ideas?
Thanks- Julia

Subject: RE: Origins: Edmond Dell (lowlands low)
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 27 Apr 20 - 05:37 PM

"Edmond Dell" or "Edmund L"

A guess here. Would people in the areas you've found those in pronounce Edmond with a hard or soft/nonexistent d? If the former, it would sound like Edmond Ell and the latter like Edmon Dell. ??

Subject: RE: Origins: Edmond Dell (lowlands low)
From: GUEST,Julia L
Date: 27 Apr 20 - 05:44 PM

It sounded like Edmond Ell.. very odd.
You can listen here and tell me what you think- it's the first cut (after a false start)
https://archive.org/details/HHFBC_tapes_D50B

https://archive.org/details/HHFBC_tapes_D50B

BTW I just checked the link you gave and even though I searched for Edmond Dell as noted in the index, there is no such song that I could find! Al the heroes are named either Edward or Johnny(!) Wierd

Anyway, thanks for your help
best- J