The text for "The Half-Hitch" in the DigiTrad matches that in Songs from the Hills of Vermont, which I believe to be the actual source. The originally posted MIDI appears now to be lost, but was probably prepared from the same source, rather than from Seeger's recording. In order to more clearly identify the spoken parts, I reproduce the text in its entirety below.


THE HALF-HITCH
1. A noble rich man in Plymouth did dwell,
He had but one daughter, a beautiful girl.
A handsome young farmer with riches supplied
He courted this fair maid to make her his bride.

2. He courted her long and gained her love,
And then she intended this young man to prove;
When he asked her to marry, she quickly replied
And told him right off she would not be his bride.

3. He vowed then that home he quickly would steer,
And by a sad oath to her he did swear
How he'd wed the first woman that e'er he did see,
If she was as mean as a beggar could be!

4. She ordered her servants this man to delay.
Her jewels and rings, she laid them away.
She put on the worst of old rags she could find:
She looked like a teapot before and behind.

5. She rubbed both her hands on the old chimney back,
And then blacked her face from corner to crack;
Then around to the road she flew like a witch,
With her petticoat hoisted all on the half-hitch.

6. The young man came riding and when he did see her,
He cried out, "Alas!" for his oath he did fear.
But being so faithful to keep his words true,
He soon overtook her, saying, "Pray, who are you?"
   (Spoken:) "I am a woman."

7. This answer did suit him as well as the rest,
It lay very heavy and hard on his breast;
"How can I bear for to make her my bride?"
But still he did ask her behind him to ride.
   (Spoken:) "Your horse'll throw me, I know."

8. "No," replied he, "my horse he will not."
So then she climbed up, and behind him she got.
He wished himself well from his promises free,
But he turned to her, saying, "Will you have me?"
   (Spoken:) "Yes, I will!"

9. "My heart, it doth fail me, I dare not go home,
My parents will think I am sorely undone.
I will leave you here with my neighbor to tarry,
Within a few days with you I will marry."
   (Spoken: "You won't, I know."

10. He told her he would, and home he did go;
He soon told his father and mother also
Of his woeful case and how he had sworn.
His parents said to him, "For that do not mourn."

11. "Oh, ne'er break your vows, but bring home your girl,
We'll soon snug her up and she'll do very well."
They asked his old spark to the wedding to come,
Her servants replied that she was not at home.

12. They invited her maidens to wait on her there,
And then for the wedding they all did prepare;
Published they were, and invited the guests,
And then they intended the bride for to dress.
   (Spoken:) "I'll just be married in my old clothes."

13. When they were married they sat down to eat,
With her fingers she hauled out the cabbage and meat,
As she stood a-stooping, some called her his bride,
Saying, "Pray go along and sit by his side."
   (Spoken:) "I'll sit in the chimney corner as I'm used to."

14. She burned all her fingers in the pudding, I fag,
Then licked them and wiped them off on her old rags;
They gave her a candle, what could she want more?
And showed her the way to the chamber door.
   (Spoken:) "Husband, when you hear my shoes go 'clung' you may come along."

15. Upstairs then she went and kept stepping about,
His mother said to him, "What think is the rout?"
He cried out, "Dear mother, pray don't say a word,
For ne'er any comfort can this world afford!"

16. A little while later her shoes they went "clung,"
They gave him a candle and bade him go 'long.
Upstairs then he went, and quickly he found
As handsome a lady as e'er stepped the ground.

17. All dressed in the richest of clothes to behold,
She was finer and fairer than pictures of gold;
He greatly rejoiced at this end to his fears,
For he married the lady he'd courted for years.

18. Downstairs then they went and a frolic they had,
Which made both their hearts feel merry and glad;
They looked like two flowers which pleased the eye.
With many full glasses all wished them great joy.

Source: Songs from the Hills of Vermont, pp. 50-57. Collected by Edith B. Sturgis, music arranged by Robert Hughes. New York: G. Schirmer, Inc., 1919.
As sung by James Atwood.

ABC transcription: (Observe the notes in the trailing comment lines)

  X:1
  T:The Half-Hitch
  C:As sung by James Atwood.
  S:Songs from the Hills of Vermont, pp. 50-57, ed. Edith B. Sturgis
  Z:Artful Codger
  M:6/8
  L:1/8
  Q:3/8=72 "Allegretto"
  K:C#m  % 4 sharps
   G | G c c (B> B) B | c d B c2 (G/ G/) | G c c B> B B |
  w: 1.~A no-ble rich man_ in Ply-mouth did dwell, He_ had but one daugh-ter, a
   c d B c2 B | c d c G F E | F G E F2 (E/ E/) |
  w: beau-ti-ful girl.  A hand-some young farm-er with rich-es sup-plied He_
   F E F G F E | F E D C2 z ||
  w: court-ed this fair maid to make her his bride.
  %
  % Sometimes, a line is spoken between verses.
  % 2nd verse like 1st.
  % 3rd and 4th verses raised a semitone (Dm, 1 flat).
  % 5th and 6th verses like 1st (C#m)
  

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