Washington, 1994.
Preceding element provides place and date of transcription only.
This transcription intended to be 99.95% accurate.
For more information about this text and this American Memory collection, refer to accompanying matter.
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Text
Robertson, Sidney [md] collector
Graham, George Vinton [md] singer
Asmussen, Ella [md] transcriber of text
Recorded at San Jose, California
December 1938
UC-WPA Disk No. 8E-B2
Young Johnny the Miller
Young Johnny, the miller, he courted of late
The farmer's fair daughter called beautiful Kate,
And whose wealthy portions was five thousand pounds
With ribbons and chances and furbulew gowns.
With ribbons and chances and rich diamond rings,
And sumptuous apparel and many fine things,
The day was appointed; the wedding foretold
With many fine presents of silver and gold.
When unto her father, young Johnny he said,
"I cannot marry this beautiful maid,
Although she is so beautiful, charming and fair,
Without the addition of Tib the gray mare."
The farmer made answer, "And since it is thus,
My money once more I'll return to my purse,
And such is my daughter I'll vow and declare ¢
I'll keep both my daughter and Tib the gray mare.
The money was then vanished out of his sight,
And so was Miss Kay, his dear and his delight. ¢¢
And he like a blockhead was kicked out of doors,
And forbade by her father to come any more.
It was then that young Johnny began his locks for to tear,
Saying, "I wish I had never, and I wish I had never stood out for the mare."
About a year after or a little above,
He chanced to meet Miss Katty, his love.
Says he, "My charming creature, oh, don't you know-me? ¢¢¢
"If I mistake not, sir, I've seen you," said she,
"Or one who look like you with long yellow hair,
Who once came a courting my father's gray mare!"
"It was not the gray mare a-courting I came,
But you, my sweet Katty, sweet Katty by name.
But since it is thus, it is, oh, that I am sorry,
It is, oh, that I am sorry for what I have done!"
Young Johnny the Miller
"Your sorrow," says Kate, "I value it not;
There's young men enough in this world to be got;
And I think that a girl would be at the last prayer
Who would marry a man that once courted a mare.
"So fare-you-well, Johnny, so fare-you-well, Johnny,
Go court the gray mare!"
¢ The third verse of this stanza was given verbally to the transcriber
by Mr. Graham.
¢¢ The first two verses of this stanza were given verbally to the transcriber
by Mr. Graham.
¢¢¢ The first verse of this stanza was given verbally to the transcriber by
Mr. Graham.
YOUNG JOHNNY THE MILLER
This song is YOUNG JOHNNY THE MILLER. He had kind of a hard time. He
wanted the old man to throw in the gray mare for a wedding gift and he declined.
(laughs) Now the song.
Young Johnny
The farmer's fair daughter called beautiful Kate
And whole wealthy portions was five thousand pounds
With ribbons and chances and furbulew gowns.
With ribbons and chances and rich diamond rings
[And sumptuous appare?]
The day was appointed, the wedding foretold
With many fine presents of silver and gold.
When unto her father
Without the addition of Tib the gray mare.
The farmer made answer
," and
My money once more I'll return to my purse
And such as my daughter I'll vow and declare.
I'll keep both my daughter and Tib the gray mare.
The money was then vanished out of his sight[.?]
And so was Miss Kay, his dear and his delight[,?]
And he like a blockhead was kicked out of doors
And forbade by her father to come any more.
[
[[?]
[
[
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[
[
[[Who?]
But you
But since it is thus
There's young men enough in the
And I think that a girl would be at the last prayer
Who would marry a man who
25
45
by Mr. [Graham?].?]