“Lillian Brown”

Description

"While the sun in his sinking beauty Was shining brightly in the West, A fair fortune maiden was thinking How soon she would meet her death." Lillian Brown, a Virginian boarding near West Durham Mill, takes poison and dies.

Supplemental text

Lillian Brown
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

From the Frank C. Brown collection, Volume II, #299, p. 689.
Said to have been sung by "F. Coleman" in 1922.

1 While the sun in his sinking beauty
  Was shining brightly in the West
  A fair fortune maiden was thinking
  How soon she would meet her death.

2 Lillian Brown from Stanent,* Virginia
  Was boarding near the West Durham Mill.
  While tired of life and all her troubles
  Drank poison from which a bottle filled.

3 God only knows how this girl suffered;
  She paid an awful debt to be free.
  After drinking from the bottle its contents
  She said, 'Dear Lord, have pity on me.'

* The editors conjecture that this might be
an error for "Staunton."

Notes

This piece, only three stanzas long, gives no motivation for Ms. Brown's suicide, and the editors of Brown were not able to elucidate. - RBW

Historical references

• 1914 - Reported date of Lillian Brown's suicide

References

1. BrownII 299, "Lillian Brown" (1 text)
2. ST BrII299 (Full)
3. Roud #6638
4. BI, BrII299