“The Fisherman's Girl”

Description

A poor girl is crying out in the street. She has lost parents and friends, and is left alone. As she passes a fine house, the owner calls her in. It proves to be her brother, and she is allowed to live happily there

Supplemental text

Fisherman's Girl, The
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

From Mary O. Eddy, Ballads and Songs from Ohio, #66, pp. 177-178.
From a manuscript copied by Franklin Eddy, dated Ashtabula, Ohio, 1852.

1. It was down in the country a poor girl was weeping,
   It was down in the country poor Mary Ann did mourn;
   She belongs to this nation, "I've lost each dear relation,"
   Cries a poor little fisherman's girl,
        "My friends are dead and gone."

2. "Oh, once I'd enjoyment, my friends they reared me tender,
   I passed with my brother each happy night and morn,
   But death has made a slaughter, poor father's in the water,"
   Cried a poor little fisherman's girl,
        "My friends are dead and gone."

3. "So fast falls the snow, I cannot find a shelter,
   So fast falls the snow, I must hasten to the thorn,
   For my covering is the bushes, my bed it is the rushes,"
   Cried the poor little fisherman's girl,
        "My friends are dead and gone."

4. It happened as she passed by a very noble cottage,
   A gentleman he heard her, his heart for her did burn,
   Crying, "Come in, poor lonely creature," he viewed each drooping feature
   Of a poor little fisherman's girl,
        Whose friends are dead and gone.

5. He took her to the fire, and when he'd warmed and fed her,
   The tears began to fall, he fell on her breast forlorn,
   Crying, "Live with me forever, we part again, no, never,
   You are my dearest sister,
        Our friends are dead and gone."

6. So now she's got a home, she's living with her brother,
   Now she's got a home, and the needy ne'er does scorn,
   For God was her protector, likewise her kind conductor
   The poor little fisherman's girl,
        When her friends were dead and gone.

Cross references

• cf. "The Soldier's Poor Little Boy" [Laws Q28] (plot)
• cf. "The Fisherman's Boy" [Laws Q29] (plot)
• cf. "The Farmer's Boy" [Laws Q30] (plot)
• cf. "The Poor Smuggler's Boy" (plot)
• cf. "The Orphan" (theme)

Broadsides

• NLScotland, APS.4.86.5, "The Fisherman's Girl," unknown, c. 1830

References

1. Eddy 66, "The Fisherman's Girl" (1 text)
2. Warner 144, "The Fisherman's Girl" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. cf. Gardner/Chickering, p. 479, "The Fisherman's Girl" (source notes only)
4. ST E066 (Full)
5. Roud #2809
6. BI, E066