“Jilson Setters's Courting Song”

Description

"It was all in the month of winter, I arrived by wagon to this place; I chanced to meet with a youthful lady...." He courts the girl and asks her to come away; her mother refuses and he is forced to depart; he hopes to meet the listeners in heaven

Notes

Said to be built around a Riley ballad, though it's not clear which one.

Setters told Thomas that he used this song to make his wife jealous so she would court him. I wonder, though -- according to Thomas, it was his wife Rhuhamie who urged him to sing it to Thomas. - RBW

References

  1. Thomas-Makin', pp. 184-185, (no title) (1 text)
  2. BI, ThBa184

About

Author: James W. Day ("Jilson Setters")?
Earliest date: 1939 (Thomas)
Found in: US(Ap)