The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Edited by Francis James Child. |
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 | The English and Scottish Popular Ballads |  |
John and William
THE TWA BROTHERS—G
[_]
a. Taken down lately from the singing of little girls in South Boston. b. Two stanzas, from a child in New York, 1880. Communicated by Mr W. W. Newell.
1
As John and William were coming home one day,One Saturday afternoon,
Says John to William, Come and try a fight,
Or will you throw a stone?
Or will you come down to yonder, yonder town
Where the maids are all playing ball, ball, ball,
Where the maids are all playing ball?
2
Says William to John, I will not try a fight,Nor will I throw a stone,
Nor will I come down to yonder town,
Where the maids are all playing ball.
3
So John took out of his pocketA knife both long and sharp,
And stuck it through his brother's heart,
And the blood came pouring down.
4
Says John to William, Take off thy shirt,And tear it from gore to gore,
And wrap it round your bleeding heart,
And the blood will pour no more.’
5
So John took off his shirt,And tore it from gore to gore,
And wrapped it round his bleeding heart,
And the blood came pouring more.
6
‘What shall I tell your dear father,When I go home to-night?’
‘You'll tell him I'm dead and in my grave,
For the truth must be told.’
7
‘What shall I tell your dear mother,When I go home to-night?’
‘You'll tell her I'm dead and in my grave,
For the truth must be told.’
8
‘How came this blood upon your knife?My son, come tell to me;’
‘It is the blood of a rabbit I have killed,
O mother, pardon me.’
9
‘The blood of a rabbit couldnt be so pure,My son, come tell to me:’
‘It is the blood of a squirrel I have killed,
O mother, pardon me.’
10
‘The blood of a squirrel couldnt be so pure,My son, come tell to me:’
‘It is the blood of a brother I have killed,
O mother, pardon me.’
| The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | |