“Lora Williams”
Description
""Come all you fair and pretty damsels And listen while I now relate... And learn of Lora Williams fate." Lora sets out with a bucket for the spring, but, knowing she must swear against her lover, drowns herself instead
Notes
According to Thomas's informant (called by the absurd name in the author field), Lora Williams was a 16-year-old asked to swear out a warrant against her lover. She chose suicide instead. Folklore adds that her voice can still be heard at the rock where she drowned, begging her mother not to weep.
At no point is the nature of the lover's crime specified.
This is item dG35 in Laws's Appendix II. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "Fair and Tender Ladies" (tune)
References
- Thomas-Makin', pp. 140-143, "Lora Williams" (1 text, 1 tune)
- BI, ThBa140