Hi,

Similar to the Cunningham versions and perhaps as old is a version from a MS dated February 22, 1874 found by Belden in Missouri. It also has the "The Unkind Parents/Dearest Dear" stanzas attached at the end. Spelling and punctuation on the MS have not been corrected:

Awake awake you drowsey sleeper
Awake awake it is allmost day
How can you Sleep you felistian[1] creature
When your true love is Just gone1 away

Go way go way youl will wake my
Mother and that will be sad news to me
you must go way and cort Some other
She whispered low love in my year[2]

Go way go way you will wake mi father
he lies on yonders bed of rest
and in his hand he holds a rapture[3]
To pearse the one whome i love best

Go fetch to me yonders pen and paper
That i may Set down and write a while
I will tell you of the greaf and sorow
that troubles me bothe day and night

I wish i was a little swalow
Or els Some lonesome turkle dove
I would fly away over hils of Sorow
and lite on Some land of love

In yonders field go stick an arow
I wish the same was in my heart
Then i would bid adieu to Sin and
Sorow then my poor Sole would be at rest

go dig my grave in yonders meadow
'lace marble stones at head and feet
and on my brest a turtle dove to tes
testify i died for love

1. usually "charming" Belden has Philistine? (Belden 1940)
2. ear
3. rapier