ARTHUR CLYDE

I am dying, sister, dying
And my voice is getting low
I have something I must tell you
Sister dear, before I go

Sister darling, Arthur's missing
Whom you longed some day to wed
Weep not faint not O dear sister
When I tell you Arthur's dead.

Him you loved but him I hated
Hated why I was not sure
But to see him with you sister,
Was more than I could endure.

So at last one autumn evening
As the pale moon brightly shone
Down beside the rolling waters
I met Arthur all alone.

Words that passed I don't remember
For I in a passion flew
And we fought with sword and dagger
Then an' there I Arthur slew

Then I thought of you dear sister
Thought how you'd be left alone
And I'd give my life dear sister
To undo this deed I done.

But I knew with all my weeping
All the tears that I might shed
Could not bring life back to Arthur
Lying there so cold and dead

So I took his lifeless body
Cast it o'er the river side
And I leave this world to wonder
What became of Arthur Clyde

Source:
Folksongs of Missouri, Sung by Loman D. Cansler (Folkways FH 5324).

Notes:
"One of the earliest songs learned from my parents, I have failed to find it elsewhere. It has been sung in the Cansler family for three or more generations. While murder or the confession of murder is quite commonly reported in folksongs, it is not common to find the triangle involved which this song unfolds."