“Pretty Betsey”
Description
Betsey loves William; her father so despises him that he brutally abuses Betsey. With Betsey's mother's help, William is able to pay a last visit, only to have Betsey die in his arms
Notes
This presence of this song in Laws is rather a curiosity: Laws knows only of the copy in Brown, and the notes to that book admit of no other version -- but Laws not only lists it as traditional but as being of British origin. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "Andrew Lammie" [Child 233] (plot)
References
- Laws M18, "Pretty Betsey"
- BrownII 75, "Pretty Betsey" (1 text)
- DT 722, PRETBETS
- Roud #1911
- BI, LM18