“The Broken Engagement (II -- We Have Met and We Have Parted)”

Description

"You may go and win another, Go and win her for your bride." The singer says he has "broke the trust you've plighted." She says not to think of her, though she is true. They will meet as strangers. She will return his letters, and wish they never met

Notes

Belden and Randolph both have songs from the Ozarks called "The Broken Engagement," and they share some lyrics. But the plots are so distinct that I have to list them as separate songs (note that Randolph also has a text of this song, which he filed with the "Dear Companion/Fond Affection" group).

Kelly Harrell's song "The Broken Engagement" is again quite different, but it clearly goes with Randolph's text (which it predates and might even have inspired) rather than Belden's. - RBW

Cross references

• cf. "The Broken Engagament (I)" (lyrics)

Recordings

• Frank Blevins, "We Have Met and We Have Parted (Columbia, 1928; unissued but probably this)
• Otis High, "Young Ladies Take Warning" (on HandMeDown1)

References

1. Belden, pp. 212-213, "The Broken Engagement" (1 text)
2. BrownII 155, "We Have Met and We Have Parted" (4 texts plus 1 excerpt and mention of 2 more)
3. BrownIII 248, "The Inconstant Lover" (5 texts plus a fragment, admitted by the editors to be distinct songs but with many floating items; "A," "B," and "C" are more "On Top of Old Smokey" than anything else, though without that phrase; "D" is primarily "The Broken Engagement (II -- We Have Met and We Have Parted)," "E" is a mix of "Old Smokey" and "The Cuckoo," and the "F" fragment may also be "Old Smokey")
4. Randolph 755, "The Broken Heart" (9 texts, 2 tunes, several of which, notably "H," but also the "D" fragment, go here or at least mix with this song)
5. MHenry-Appalachians, pp. 165-166, "Last Good-Bye" (1 text)
6. Shellans, p. 42, "We Have Met and We Have Parted" (1 text, 1 tune, which does not mention a broken engagement)
7. Roud #4250
8. BI, Beld212