COURTING SONGS

1

A PAPER OF PINS

A

'The Paper of Pins.' Sung by Clarice Burleson. Recorded at Crossnore, Avery county, August 8, 1940. F. C. B. notes: "I think that although Clarice's home is near Asheville, she learned most of her songs at Crossnore." The beginning certainly reminds one of the same of 'Gran'ma Grunts' (F-155). The sequence of the gifts in this version is: Paper of pins; Dress of red; Little grey dog; Key to my chest. Traditional answer given by maid: "I'm determined to be an old maid." At the conclusion the young man says: "I will remain a bachelor and I won't marry her." For additional texts cf. SharpK II 45, No. 92A, also SCFS 41-3 and 70-1; and JAFL xlix (1936), 260-2.

For melodic relationship cf. **OFS III 41, No. 354, where the melodic tendency is the same as in our version; *SharpK II 45, No. 92A, beginning only.

Scale: Tetratonic (2), plagal. Tonal Center: e-flat. Structure: abed (2,2,2,2).

E

'A Paper of Pins.' Sung by Bascom Lamar Lunsford. Recorded at Turkey Creek, Buncombe county. Additional title given 'Little Lap Dog.' The only other versions using "Madam" in addressing the lady are SharpK II 45, No. 92F; SCSM 301 (c); SCFS 42; BSO 124-5, No. 39D; and BSM 507. For reference tracing the song back to medieval times cf. TFS 174.

For melodic relationship cf. **AMS 52, measures 1-4; FFS 422; SharpK II 45, No. 92A; JAFL xxviii 266 ('Chase that Squirrel'); TFS 174, general melodic line of first four measures; *SFQ vi 225.

Scale: Mode III, plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: abac (2,2,2,2).

H

'Paper of Pins.' Sung by Miss Pearl Webb. Recorded at Pineola, Avery county, 1921. Another title given is 'Little Lap Dog.' Cf. SharpK II 45, No. 92A, stanza 7. Our recording gives only this one stanza. The peculiar tonal juxtaposition of the two characters speaking is interesting. When the man is speaking, the melody moves in the dominant realm although it cadences in the tonic key. The answer of the girl begins in the latter, deviates momentarily into the dominant region, only to cadence with the same formula as the previous phrase. As only one stanza was recorded, it cannot be stated definitely whether this distinction is intentional or not, or, what is probably more likely, the singer having made a wrong start, corrects herself in the second part of the melody. One needs only to compare the last six measures with measures 3-8 to convince himself that this assumption is more than a good guess.

For melodic relationship cf. **SharpK II 45, No. 92A; BSO 120, No. 39A; ABFS 323 with our last eight measures. TFS 174, measures 1-2 with our 9-10, also the melodic tendency of measures 3-4 with our 11-12; the latter also in GSAC, No. 5; FSF 422; EAS, No. 46; and AMS 52, measures 1-4 with our 9-12.

Scale: Hexatonic (4), plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: aa1baa1b = mm1n plus mm1n (2,2,4,2,2,4) = bar plus bar.

MADAM, WILL YOU WALK?

A

'Madam, Will You Walk?' Sung by an anonymous singer to Mrs. Sutton at Forest City, Rutherford county, 1927. Recorded as MS score. For a different textual version cf. FSCSG 88, No. 4; also Newell (GSAC) 55-6.

Scale: Heptachordal. Tonal Center: e-flat. Structure: mm1nnn1 (2,2,1,1,2) = mm1n (2,2,4); n1 is terminally incremented. The tonal center is the lowest tone.

B

'Madam, Will You Walk?' Sung by Miss Emeth Tuttle at Lenoir, Caldwell county. Recorded as MS score, May 1921. The text supposedly like the first stanza of 2A (III 9-10) is given here as found in the MS score.

For melodic relationship cf. ***OFS III 42, No. 354B.

Scale: Hexachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: mm1n (2,2,4) = bar.

3

THE COURTING CAGE

A

'Kind Sir, I See You've Come Again.' Sung by Miss Jewel Robbins, at Pekin, Montgomery county, in 1922.

For melodic relationship cf. ***SCSM 437B; OFS III 53, No. 361; SharpK II 250, No. 177B.

Scale: Tetratonic (2,4) plagal. Tonal Center: e-flat. Structure: aa1abb1 (2,2,2,2,2).

B

'If You Will Only Be My Bride.' Sung by C. K. Tillett at Wanchese, Roanoke Island, December 29, 1922. There are some melodic similarities with 3A. This version is based on the Midgett text. Second stanza (cf. variations) : "Kind sir, I know you have a very fine ship."

For melodic relationship cf. **SCSM 436; SharpK II 250, No. 177B and OFS III 42, No. 354B, first six measures. There is a surprising similarity between the beginning of this song and that of 'The House Carpenter,' IV 40, by the same singer.

Scale: Mode III. Tonal Center: d. Structure: aa1a2bb1 (2,2,2,2,2). The tonal center is the lowest tone.

7

SOLDIER, SOLDIER, WON'T YOU MARY ME?

C 'Soldier, Soldier, Won't You Marry Me?' Sung by J. W. Lawrence at Zionville, Watauga county, in 1915. Recorded as ms score by A. J. Burrus. Like 7B, the structure of our melody demands two of the stanzas as given in III 15, 7A. The text is that of Mrs. R. D. Blacknall.

For melodic relationship cf. **BSO 211, No. 89A, last two measures like our 8-69; BSO 212, No. 89B, measures 1-2 and 5-6; JAFL XXVIII 158 and OFS I 289, No. 65, measures 1-2.

Scale: Mode III. Tonal Center c. Structure: abcca1d (4,3,2,2,3,2). The a1 shows an interesting contraction of the first two measures into one, rhythmically altered. Circular tune (V). The tonal center is the lowest tone.

D

'Soldier, Soldier, Won't You Marry Me?' Sung by Miss Jean Holman at Durham, 1922. Text by Mrs. R. D. Blacknall. The structure of the melodic line demands two stanzas as given in III 15.

For melodic relationship cf. ** BSO 212, No. 89B, measures 1-2 and 5-6 and the same in our version; JAFL XXVIII 158 and OFS 289, No. 65, measures 1-2; *SHP 51, first measure only.

Scale: Heptachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: aba1bcc1c2b (2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2) = aa1bb1 (4,4,4,4).

9

THE OLD MAN'S COURTSHIP

'The...