“The Stolen Bride”
Description
"Down by the river, the willows grow tall, Whippoorwill calling, hear their sad call." The girl is in love with a man from a family who is feuding with her own. Her father captures her lover. She begs for his life; refused, she accepts death beside him
Supplemental text
Stolen Bride, The
Partial text(s)
*** A ***
From Jean Thomas, Ballad Makin', pp. 20-21.
Down by the river, the willows grow tall,
Whippoorwill calling, hear their sad call.
Hear their sad call, dear, hear their sad call,
Down by the river hear their sad call.
Over the mountain comes his fair bride,
Knowing full well he's on the wrong side.
Knowing he's sworn to murder and kill
All of her kinsmen over the hill.
"Traitors must doe, dear," said these stern men,
"You have betrayed your own blooded kin.
Kneel you both down, for nothing can save,
Here you shall rest, both in the same grave."
(Stanzas 1, 4, 9 of 10)
Notes
Not the best poetry, but a very strong theme; I'm surprised this piece hasn't been collected somewhere outside of Thomas. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "Down in the Valley" (tune)
- cf. "Lady Maisry" [Child 65] (plot)
References
- Thomas-Makin', pp. 20-21, "The Stolen Bride" (1 text)
- ST ThBa020 (Partial)
- BI, ThBa020