“Come Write Me Down (The Wedding Song)”
Description
Man offers gold and pearls; woman refuses, saying she'll never be at any young man's call. He tells her t he'll find another. He picks up his hat to leave, but she changes her mind. They are married the next day; "she'll prove his comfort day and night"
Long description
"Come write me down the powers above/That first created a man to love." Man offers gold and pearls; woman refuses, saying she'll never be at any young man's call. He tells her to "go your way, you scornful dame"; he'll find another. He picks up his hat to leave, but, as could be predicted, she changes her mind. They are married the next day; "she'll prove his comfort day and night"
Notes
Like "Corydon and Phyllis," whose plot is virtually identical, this no doubt began life as a minstrel piece or "rural romance" broadside. But it's entered tradition, with over half-a-dozen collections cited by Kennedy. The song has long been associated with the Copper family of Rottingdean, Sussex, having been collected from them as early as 1899, but it is also found in Dorset, Hampshire, Devon -- and Newfoundland.
It is distinguished from "Corydon and Phyllis" by the characteristic phrases quoted in the [long description]. - PJS
Cross references
- cf. "Corydon and Phoebe" (plot)
References
- Kennedy 126, "Come Write Me Down the Powers Above" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Peacock, pp. 571-572, "Oh Write Me Down, Ye Powers Above" (1 text, 1 tune)
- DT, COMWRIT1
- Roud #381
- BI, K126