“McAfee's Confession”
Description
McAfee, the singer, is raised by an uncle after being orphaned. As a youth he runs away and turns wild. Married to a good woman, he has an affair with Hettie Stout and murders his wife by giving her poison instead of medicine. He is condemned to die
Notes
Laws lists this as a native American ballad, but there is British influence; Pound notes that her text concludes with a wish by McFee that he had "ten thousand pounds" to bring her back to life. This may be a moralizing addition, but clearly from a British source. - RBW
Historical references
- Mar 28, 1825 - Hanging of John McAfee
References
- Laws F13, "McAfee's Confession"
- Belden, pp. 317-321, "McAfee's Confession" (2 texts plus references to 4 more, 1 tune)
- Randolph 133, "McFee's Confession" (2 texts plus a long excerpt, 1 tune)
- Eddy 129, "McAfee's Confession" (1 text)
- Gardner/Chickering 138, "McAfee's Confession" (1 text)
- LPound-ABS, 68, pp. 153-154, "Young McFee" (1 text)
- JHCox 37, "McAfee's Confession" (2 texts plus references to 5 more, 1 tune)
- JHCoxIIB, #6A-B, pp. 133-136, "McAfee's Confession" (1 text plus a fragment, 1 tune)
- SharpAp 79, "Macafee's Congession, or Harry Gray" (4 texts, 4 tunes)
- Burt, pp. 22-24, "McAfee's Confession" (1 text)
- Cohen/Seeger/Wood, p. 136, "MacAfee's Confession" (1 text, 1 tune)
- DT 630, MCAFEECN*
- Roud #449
- BI, LF13