“Young Melvyn”

Description

Melvyn shoots Mary. He ties her to a stone and sinks her in the river. Nevertheless he is convicted and hanged. Girls "be careful in your friendship, and chose a proper mate." Young men, "think on Young Melvyn ... locked in his lonesome cell"

Supplemental text

Young Melvyn
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

From Kenneth Peacock, Songs of the Newfoundland Outports, Volume II,
pp. 6043-644. Sung by Charlotte Decker, Parson's Pond, August 1958.

Both young and old come ponder what I do now relate,
It's of a cruel treachery in Charlottetown of late,
The  memory of my ripe few years be always on the boy,
Young Melvyn was that young man's name, his mother's only joy.

(11 additional stanzas)

References

1. Peacock, pp. 643-644, "Young Melvyn" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. ST Pea643 (Partial)
3. Roud #9798
4. BI, Pea643