Subject: RE: Chord Req: Wife of Usher's Well-Peter Blegvad
From:
Reinhard
Date: 03 Dec 25 - 02:05 AM
Phil Edwards asked about this one on the Tradsong mailing list (which I'm not a member of).
Peter Blegvad basically sings the lyrics of Peggy Seeger from her and Ewan MacColl's album Blood & Roses Volume 5. Her version is from the singing of Lena Hill, Lexington, Alabama.
THE WIFE OF USHER'S WELL
Peggy Seeger
There were a fair and a beautiful bride
Children she had three;
She sent them away to a northing school
For to study gramaree.
They were away but about three months
Three months and a day;
When there came death all over that land
And stole her little babes away.
There be a king in heavens above,
Wearin’ of a golden crown,
Please send home my sweet little babes
This night or in the morning soon.
It were about old Christmas-time,
And the nights was long and cool;
She dreamed she seen them sweet little babes
Come a-running to their mother’s room.
She set a table with a clean white cloth,
Spread with bread and wine;
Come eat, come drink, my sweet little babes,
Come eat and drink of mine.
We can’t eat your bread, mother,
We can’t drink your wine;
For in the morning, the morning soon,
With our Saviour we must dine.
She made a bed in the backmost room,
Spread with a Holland sheet;
And over the top run a golden quilt
Come; my sweet little babes, and sleep.
Green grass grown at our heads; mother,
Green moss at our feet;
And every tear you weeped for us
Just wets our windin’ sheet.
Wake; awake; said the eldest one,
Wake; it’s almost day;
Yonder stands our Saviour dear;
And with him we must away.
Farewell mamma and pappa too,
Farewell Kitty and the Queen;
How can I stay in this dark world?
There’s a brighter one for me.
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sj
