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28 Apr 25 - 05:18 PM (#4221758) Subject: Origins: Sweet Jane From: Joe Offer Seems like we need to do some work on this. Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry: Sweet Jane [Laws B22]DESCRIPTION: Willie bids his Jane farewell and sets off across the sea. Three years later, having gained success as a gold miner (and suffered much hardship), he returns to his southern home and marries JaneAUTHOR: unknown EARLIEST DATE: 1914 (Brown) KEYWORDS: separation marriage gold mining love ship work hardtimes food reunion FOUND IN: US(Ap,SE) REFERENCES (7 citations): Laws B22, "Sweet Jane" Brown/Belden/Hudson-FrankCBrownCollectionNCFolklore2 259, "Sweet Jane" (1 text plus mention of 1 more) Brown/Schinhan-FrankCBrownCollectionNCFolklore4 259, "Sweet Jane" (1 excerpt, 1 tune) Combs/Wilgus-FolkSongsOfTheSouthernUnitedStates 51, pp. 177-178, "Sweet Jane" (1 text) Rosenbaum-FolkVisionsAndVoices, p. 67, "Sweet Jane" (1 text, 1 tune) SongsOfAllTime, p. 23, "Farewell, Sweet Jane" (1 text, 1 tune) DT 726, SWTJANE Roud #3243 ALTERNATE TITLES: Come Sweet Jane Adieu, Sweet Lovely Jane NOTES [123 words]: This is a relatively rare song, and is not at all specific in its details. Where does the singer go to seek gold? We have no clue. Since he apparently goes overseas, it can hardly be the San Francisco or Klondike gold rushes (yes, a prospector might well go to those places by sea -- but it is not *overseas*). That leaves perhaps South Africa or Australia. The singer claims also to have "lived on bread and salty (meat/lard), and never lost my health." Such a diet, if followed for long, would assuredly result in scurvy -- and, if pursued for three years, would certainly result in death. Clearly he got more vegetable matter than he let on. If there is more to be said about this song, it must be hidden in a version I have not seen. - RBW Last updated in version 6.6 File: LB22 Go to the Ballad Search form Go to the Ballad Index Instructions The Ballad Index Copyright 2025 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.
SWEET JANE (DT Lyrics-corrections indicated) Farewell, sweet Jane, for I must start Across the foaming sea; My trunk is now on Johnston's barque With all my company. Then do not weep, sweet loving Jane, Come, dry those tearful eyes, For I'll return to you again Unless your Willie dies. I see the sails upon the barque, The time's all (over?) now, Take one sweet kiss before I start It's mighty deep to plow (The mighty etc.?) She met my lips with flowing tears, And then I kissed her hand. "Oh, think of me, sweet Willie dear. When in some far off land." My bosom felt a feeling then It never felt before. I got on board with Johnston's men And left my native shore. For three long months we all did sail Upon the billows wide; The crew was filled with mirth and glee, But still my bosom sighed. At length we drew in sight of land And landed on the shore And I did wander my way to the mines To dig the golden ore. For three long years I labored hard A-digging of my wealth. I lived on bread and salted lard And never lost my health. I loaded up my trunk with gold And then I thought of Jane. The anxious thought that homewards roll As I recrossed the main. For four long months we all did sail Upon the stormy deep. One night I thought we all were lost. The captain was asleep. At last we drew in sight of land, Of our old native town, And our good captain did command To take the rigging down. At five o'clock we heard the roar From out the cannon's And we were welcomed to the shore Of our old sunny South. I saw a crowd of lovely girls Come marching to the ship; I saw sweet Jane, with all her curls, And I began to skip. I met her on the marble walk; My heart was filled with charm. We both so glad we could not speak; I caught her in my arms. We walked along the marble Up to her father's door. Oh, Jane did look so nice and neat While standing on the floor ! The parson read the marriage vows That bound us both for life; And Jane is mine without a doubt, My own dear darling wife. From North Carolina Folklore, Brown Collected from Isabel Rawn DT #726 Laws B22 @parting @reunion @marriage filename[ SWTJANE TUNE FILE: SWTJANE CLICK TO PLAY RG oct96 The Digital Tradition Lyrics are #259 in Volume II of the Frank C. Brown Collection of North Carolina Folklore. Brown says that the song is "A ballad of California gold fever times, apparently, very likely circulated as a stall print though it has not been found as such." |
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28 Apr 25 - 11:18 PM (#4221767) Subject: RE: Origins: Sweet Jane From: GerryM I thought this was going to be a thread about the Velvet Underground song of the same name, written by Lou Reed. |