Lyr Req: Queer Woman

Subject: Queer Woman
From: Song Dog
Date: 23 Mar 00 - 10:18 PM

Please don't be deceived by the subject. I am seeking the title and the rest of the lyrics to an old song I heard about sixty years ago, I was five. I still remember the tune and these words;

"They rode around the mountain, the mountain looked so high.
Back back your pony I heard a woman cry.
They backed back their ponies, and looking to the left,
They spied a queer woman, sitting by herself.
Queer woman, queer woman, why do you sit and cry?
Seven robbers have robbed me and left me here to die."

Later on in the song these two pals go searching for the robbers. "They found six of the robbers but the seventh one couldn't be found." Later on back at the ranch, (of course,) the seventh robber turns out to be one of the good guys. I think the other good guy shoots or arrests his pal and maybe gets the woman, I don't know for sure. I've searched some but I'm new to computers so I probably did a lousy job of it. You might be surprised at some of the sites I came up with. Hope someone can help Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Queer Woman
From: PA Dan
Date: 23 Mar 00 - 10:53 PM

Anyone who has spent even 5 minutes serching wouldn't be al all surprised at the sites you came up with!! Sorry, I can't help you with your query though. I'll be watching to see what follows on this.....Maybe Rude GUEST can help!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Queer Woman
From: Sorcha
Date: 23 Mar 00 - 11:39 PM

Where did you hear it? Sounds almost like an Appalachian version of a Child Ballad.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Queer Woman
From: Song Dog
Date: 24 Mar 00 - 12:58 AM

heard it as a small boy Near Mcalister OK. From a seven year-old girl who was the daughter of the midwife who delivered me. I was five at the time. I located this same "girl"a few days ago. (she's now a grand mother of course) She didn't remember the title or any of the words. She did vaguely remember once knowing a song like that. As Sorcha said it sounds Appalachian in origin or maybe even Australian. Any ideas?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Queer Woman
From: Sorcha
Date: 24 Mar 00 - 12:59 AM

Will see what I can find tomorrow, come on back now,heah?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Queer Woman
From: Gypsy
Date: 24 Mar 00 - 01:02 AM

Dug through my trusty collection of Child...no matches. However, this definitely sounds Breton, and if it is indeed Appalachian, bet that it is Breton. Try Richard Robinsons Tunebook, might be a good start. He has loads of links that might be useful to you. Would love to hear the denouement.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Queer Woman
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Mar 00 - 10:41 PM

Sounds like it might be a variant of Bold Johnson/The Two Butchers, which is in the DT. Or rather, it might be another variant of the ballad of which Bold Johnson/ The Two Butchers is a variant.