“The Jealous Lover (II)”

Description

The jealous lover takes his girlfriend down to the woods. (She grows weary, and asks to return home.) He (tells her she will never return home, and) stabs her. With her dying breath she forgives him

Notes

Given the number of similar songs, the reader is advised to check references under Laws F1, Laws F2, Laws F3, etc.

The element that most clearly distinguishes this from "The Jealous Lover (I)" is that the girl forgives the murderer. At least, that's my guess, based on the "Jealous Lover" texts Laws does not catalog.

I agree, it's a mess; Laws accuses students of persistently confusing his F1 and F2, but gives no method for distinguishing them, and does not treat this close relative at all! If it were me, I'd lump the Jealous Lover songs; even if they originated separately, they trade verses at an incredible rate. - RBW

Cross references

• cf. "Jealous Lover (I), The (Florella, Floella) (Pearl Bryan II) (Nell Cropsey II)" [Laws F1A, B, C]
• cf. "The Banks of the Ohio" [LawsF5]
• cf. "The Wexford Girl" [Laws P35]

Recordings

• Vernon Dalhart, "The Jealous Lover of Lone Green Valley" (Brunswick 143, 1927; Supertone S-2012, 1930)
• Kelly Harrell, "Blue Eyed Ella" (OKeh 7010, 1925; on KHarrell01)
• Posey Rorrer and the North Carolina Ramblers, "Blue Eyed Eller" (Edison, unissued, 1928)

References

1. Eddy 104, "The Jealous Lover" (8 texts, 2 tunes, but only the F, G, and H texts belong with this ballad; the others all go with the other ballads listed in the cross-references)
2. Hudson 62, pp. 185-187, "The Jealous Love" (2 texts plus mention of 8 more)
3. Lomax-ABFS 47, "The Lone Green Valley" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. LPound-ABS, 43, pp. 101-102, "The Jealous Lover"; pp. 102-103, "The Weeping Willow" (2 texts, of which the first is this but the second is short and could well be Laws F1)
5. JHCox 38, "The Jealous Lover" (5 texts plus mentions of three more; of these, Laws identifies D and E as "The Jealous Lover (I)"; since he does not catalog the other three, it appears they belong here)
6. JHCoxIIB, #5A-B, pp. 130-132, "The Jealous Lover," "Blue-Eyed Ellen" (1 text plus a fragment, 1 tune; the "A" fragment might be this or "The Jealous Lover (I)"; the "B" text is probably this song)
7. MHenry-Appalachians, pp. 51-52, "Shady Valley (The Jealous Lover)" (1 text)
8. Spaeth-WeepMore, pp. 121-122, "Blue-Eyed Ellen, or The Jealous Lover of Lone Green Valley" (1 text, 1 tune); p. 122, "Come, Emily" (1 text, 1 tune)
9. Leach-Labrador 104, "The Jealous Lover" (1 text, 1 tune)
10. Darling-NAS, pp. 198-199, "The Jealous Lover" (1 text, filed with "The Jealous Lover (I) but belonging here by the criteria outlined below)
11. DT 626, JLSLOVER*
12. Roud #500
13. BI, E104