Req: US folk song-son hanged for dad's crime

Subject: Lyr Req: American folk song
From: Simbo
Date: 05 May 05 - 04:30 PM

Does anyone out there know the title/lyrics of an American folk-song, probably 19th century, about an old man filled with remorse because his son is being hanged for a crime he (the old man) committed? I've come across this song on a couple of occasions but I can't remember where or what it was called. Thanks in advance. - Simbo

Subject: RE: Req: US folk song-son hanged for dad's crime
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 06 May 05 - 01:40 PM

Do you mean Willow (or Willowy) Garden?

I stobbed her with a dagger,
Which was a bloody knife,
I threw her in the river,
Which was a dreadful sight.
My father often told me
That money would set me free,
If I would murder that dear little girl
Whose name was Rose Connelly.
And now he sits in his own cottage door,
A-wiping his weeping eye,
And now he waits for his own dear son,
Upon the scaffold high.
My race is run beneath the sun,
Lo, hell's now waiting for me,
For I have murdered that dear little girl
Whose name was Rose Connelly.


I don't think the father did the murder, but it's conceivable given the ambiguity of who's speaking in the final three lines.

Subject: RE: Req: US folk song-son hanged for dad's crime
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 06 May 05 - 01:54 PM

No, that's Rose Connolly, the son did the murder. I'll be interested in what we find out here.

Subject: RE: Req: US folk song-son hanged for dad's crime
From: SINSULL
Date: 07 May 05 - 12:51 PM

Simbo,
Somewhere (I will have to dig it out) I read that in a version of the song "The Prison Warden's Secret" The father (the warden himself?)committed the murder for which the son is hung. Sorry - not at my fingertips.
SINS

Subject: RE: Req: US folk song-son hanged for dad's crime
From: GUEST,Louie Roy
Date: 08 May 05 - 11:32 AM

Simbo,I found on Googles under the prison warden's secret that it referred that the song you are looking for is called Take Yhe News To Mother.I have a copy of that recording and can email you an MP3 if you will PM me your email address.Maybe this is not what you're looking for just a suggestion Louie Roy

Subject: RE: Req: US folk song-son hanged for dad's crime
From: Louie Roy
Date: 09 May 05 - 10:30 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Req: US folk song-son hanged for dad's crime
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 09 May 05 - 05:04 PM

Take the News to Mother isn't an alternate title for The Prison Warden's Secret; it's the name of a record on which both songs appeared. The former is quite easy to find (popular song of the Spanish-American war, I believe); the latter isn't, it seems.

Subject: RE: Req: US folk song-son hanged for dad's crime
From: SINSULL
Date: 09 May 05 - 07:33 PM

The Prison Warden's Secret is on Arnold Keith Storm's CD titled "Take The News To Mother". Contact Sandy Paton at Folk-Legacy or Dick Greenhaus at Camsco.

Subject: RE: Req: US folk song-son hanged for dad's crime
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 10 May 05 - 08:48 AM

ummm - and the lyrics are...?