“Banker Brown”
Description
A girl tells her mother that she loves Jack but will marry old Banker Brown for his money. Mother advises her to "wed the man you love." Daughter marries Banker Brown and, a year later, admits to her mother that it was a mistake.
Supplemental text
Banker Brown
Partial text(s)
*** A ***
From MacEdward Leach, Folk Ballads & Songs of the Lower Labrador Coast,
#39, pp. 116-117. "Sung by Martin Hocko, Pinware, August 1960."
One evening in a cottage sat maiden young and fair;
Her mother dear was seated by her side;
"Jack was here today to see me and he pleaded for my hand;
I love him, but I'll never be his bride."
"I mean to marry Banker Brown although he's old and gray;
I do not love him; yet someday we'll wed."
The mother laid her knitting down and turning with a sigh,
She gently kissed her daughter and she said:
(4 additional stanzas plus repeats)
Notes
The cynic in me thinks some wag rewrote this to reverse the speeches of mother and daughter. - RBW
References
- Leach-Labrador 39, "Banker Brown" (1 text, 1 tune)
- ST LLab39 (Partial)
- Roud #9989
- BI, LLab39