“The Green Brier Shore (II)”
Description
"Oh, then I can court little and I can court long, and I'll court an old sweetheart till the new one comes along. I'll kiss them and court them...." Nancy and Willie declare their love and lamenting her rich parents' disapproval of Willie.
Notes
Though it has the same title, it does not have the story line of the Laws M26, "Green Brier (Red River or New River) Shore" [though Roud lumps them, and I'm almost tempted to do the same until and unless more versions of this form show up - RBW].In fact there is precious little story line at all, the verses all describe Nancy and Willie declaring their love for each other and lamenting her rich parents disapproval of Willie.
Has a completely unrelated and lighthearted first verse which could also function as a chorus, "Oh, then I can court little and I can court long, and I'll court an old sweetheart till the new one comes along. I'll kiss them and court them -- keep their mind at ease. But when their back is turning I'll court who I please."
Fowke states that it seems to be a composite, borrowing verses from several other songs, including the other "Green Brier Shore" and "Lovely Willie." - SL
Cross references
- cf. "The New River Shore (The Green Brier Shore; The Red River Shore)" [Laws M26] (lyrics)
- cf. "Lovely Willie" [Laws M35] (lyrics)
- cf. "Way Down the Ohio" (lyrics)
References
- Fowke/MacMillan 68, "Green Brier Shore, The" (1 text, 1 tune)
- DT 329, GRNBRIR2*
- Roud #549
- BI, FowM068