Help: Jealous Brother

Subject: Jealous Brother
From:
Date: 15 Dec 01 - 06:52 PM

I have been unable to find in digitrad, Bronson, or ballad index a song I learned nearly forty years ago from a Nova Scotia singer whose name now eludes me. Anyone have a source? Here are the lyrics as I remember them:

"She dressed herself in men's attire So gaily was she dressed. Thinking to meet her own true love The one that she loved best.

But when he saw her a-coming He cried out, "Who is there?" It is my eldest brother Thinking to meet my dear.

But how soon will I deceive him For his butcher I shall be..."

Anyway, he shoots her, thinking she's his brother, discovers his error, she dies, he shoots himself. Moral: "Be aware of jealousy."

Subject: RE: Help: Jealous Brother
From: Greg F.
Date: 15 Dec 01 - 08:20 PM

Hullo!

From liner notes on Ian & Sylvia's "Northern Journey" album say:
The Jealous Lover. From Helen Creighton's 'Maritime Folk Songs'.

I'm a bit short of time right now, but if you can't turn up the album or the book, let me know &I'll try to get the lyrics posted. I've always liked the song!

Best, Greg

Subject: RE: Help: Jealous Brother
From:
Date: 15 Dec 01 - 08:36 PM

Thanks, Greg,

This is very helpful.

All the best,

Rick http://ricklee.org

Subject: Lyr Add: THE JEALOUS LOVER
From: Greg F.
Date: 15 Dec 01 - 08:57 PM

What the heck, its the Christmas Season- & this is more fun than what I was doing, anyway. Enjoy-

Best, Greg.
-------------

THE JEALOUS LOVER
(Trad)

She dressed herself in men's attire, so gaily was she dressed.
A-thinking to meet her own true love, the one that she loved best.
But when he saw her a-coming he cried out, "Who is there?
"It is my eldest brother thinking to meet my dear.

"But how soon will I deceive him for his butcher I shall be.
"He shall not live to enjoy my love nor yet to bother me
He fired right at him (as he thought) which caused his true love to fall
And in her tender bosom he lodged a fatal ball.

"I fall, I fall, I fall" cried she, "I fall onto the ground
"Oh Jimmy, cruel Jimmy, you have gave me my death wound
"Come look at the crimson tide that from my heart does flow
"Oh Jimmy, cruel Jimmy, how could you use me so?"

And when he saw what he had done he tore his lovin' hair
Another loaded pistol for himself he did prepare
"I shall die for the love of Mary, I shall die for the life of thee
"Come all bold lads and bold lassies, beware of jealousy."

--- From Helen Creighton's Maritime Folk Songs
Rec. by Ian & Sylvia on Northern Journey

Subject: Lyr Add: THE JEALOUS LOVER
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 24 Dec 01 - 11:33 AM

Ian and Sylvia made some changes to the text, in some cases to make better sense of it.  Here it is as originally sung:

THE JEALOUS LOVER

(Noted by Helen Creighton from Nathan Hatt of Middle River, in June 1952)

She dressed herself in men's attire, so gayly she was dressed,
A-thinking to meet her own true love, the one that she loved best;
And when he saw her a-coming he cried out, "Who is there?
It is my eldest brother a-thinking to meet my dear.

But how soon will I deceive him for his butcher I will be,
He shall never live to enjoy my dear or not to bother me."
He fired right at him as he thought which caused his loved one to fall,
And in her tender bosom he plunged a fatal ball.

"I fall, I fall, I fall," said she, "I fall unto the ground,
Oh Jimmie, cruel Jimmie, you have gave me my death wound.
Come look at the crimson tide from my bleeding wound do flow,
Oh Jimmie, cruel Jimmie, how could you serve me so?"

And when he saw her a-dying he tore his loving hair,
Another loaded pistol for himself he did repair.
"I will die for the loss of Mary, I will die for the love of thee,
So come, all bold lads and bold lassies, be ye ware of jealousy."

Maritime Folk Songs, Helen Creighton, 1962.  A midi of Mr. Hatt's tune will go in time to the  Mudcat Midi Pages; in the meantime it can be heard via the  South Riding Folk Network  site:

Jealous_Lover.mid

Steve Roud's folksong index lists one other set of this song, called The Jealous Brother, which came from Mrs. Carrie Grover of Maine, and appeared in her book A Heritage of Song.