Lyr Req: The Sussex Miracle

Subject: The Sussex Miracle
From: CET
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 09:39 PM

I was at a song circle last night at which a woman sang a song called "The Sussex Miracle". The plot involved a young falling in love with an unsuitable boy, and being sent far away by her parents. One day she is visited by her true love, who tells her he has come to take her home to her parents. This seems perfectly logical to her, so off they ride. He complains of having a bad headache and she ties a handkerchief around his head. When she gets home, her parents are surprised to see her, and she asks "Didn't you send one I used to love to fetch me" or words to that effect. "Heavens, no" they reply, he's been dead for a year. They then dig up his corpse and find her handkerchief tied around his head. Rather grand guignol, perhaps, but surprisingly grim and unsettling.

No luck finding this on Digitrad. Can anybody help with the lyrics, or point me to a recording?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Sussex Miracle
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 09:56 PM

The reason you can't find it is because there is no song called The Sussex Miracle!  If, on the other hand, you were to type suffolk miracle into the "Digitrad and Forum Search" on the main Forum page, you would find several sets.  Different county.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Sussex Miracle
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 10:15 PM

I should also mention that, beside the 3 texts in the DT and some references in past threads, there was a brief discussion of the song a couple of weeks ago, which hasn't been indexed by the search engine yet:  The Suffolk Miracle and The Gift

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Sussex Miracle
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 11:09 PM

There are 3 copies on the Bodleian Ballads website.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Sussex Miracle
From: GUEST,dick greenhaus
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 10:42 AM

Helpful Search Hint Department

If you can't find what you want, search for a word of phrase instead of a title. "Handkerchief" or "Miracle" would have found it for you.