“I Never Will Marry”

Description

The singer meets a fair woman by the seashore. She (is reading a letter which) reveals that her lover is dead. The singer asks her to marry him. She vows she never will marry, and ensures it by drowning herself

Cross references

• cf. "Chowan River" (theme)

Recordings

• Carter Family, "I Never Will Marry" (Montgomery Ward M-7356, c. 1935; Bluebird B-8350, 1940)
• Texas Gladden w. Hobart Smith, "I'm Never to Marry" (Disc 6080, 1940s)
• Pete Seeger, "I Never Will Marry" (on HootenannyCarnegie) (on PeteSeeger27)

References

1. Laws K17, "Down by the Sea Shore"
2. Belden, pp. 167-168, "The Lover's Lament for her Sailor" (2 texts)
3. Randolph 84, "Down by the Sea-Shore" (2 texts plus 1 fragment and 1 excerpt, 2 tunes)
4. McNeil-SFB1, pp.130-131, "The Maiden's Lament" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. Lomax-FSNA 114, "I Never Will Marry" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. PSeeger-AFB, p. 29, "I Never Will Marry" (1 text, 1 tune)
7. Silber-FSWB, p. 181, "I Never Will Marry" (1 text)
8. DT 405, CONSTLOV NEVMARRY* (FORSAKMM)
9. Roud #466
10. BI, LK17