“Betty Brown (I)”

Description

"Now, since he's gone, just let him go; I don't mean to cry. I'll let him know I can live without him if I try." She accuses him of slander. She despises "hateful Betty Brown," whom he is visiting. But at last she admits being wrong and wishes him back

Supplemental text

Betty Brown (I)
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

From Harvey H. Fuson, Ballads of the Kentucky Highlands, p. 148.
"From singing of Leila Bunch."

Now, since he's gone, just let him go: I don't mean to cry;
I'll let him know I can live without him if I try.
Without him if I try, without him if I try,
I'll let him know I can live without him if I try.

Down there, that hateful Betty Brown, she lives almost in sight,
And now it's almost eight o'clock, perhaps he's there tonight.
Perhaps he's there tonight, perhaps he's there tonight.
And now it's almost eight o'clock, perhaps he's there tonight.

(Stanzas 1, 3 of 5)

Notes

This starts out sounding much like "Farewell He" or something similar, but eventually converts to a lost love song. I wonder if it might not be composite. Compare "Harry Lumsdale's Courtship," which also features a girl resenting Betty Brown, who has stolen her man. - RBW

References

1. Fuson, p. 148, "Betty Brown" (1 text)
2. ST Fus148 (Partial)
3. Roud #3689
4. BI, Fus148