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Silver Dagger

This American ballad has gained wide circulation among folk and traditional singers. The Silver Dagger is another of many stories of parents forcefully opposing a young couples wish to marry each other, usually on the basis of wealth. Ballads on the subject always convey the warning to parents that to break apart true love is wrong. The lesson is delivered as loss of the child through elopement or a broken spirit, death from heartbreak, suicide, revenge, and in one case, from choking while eating a sausage in great distress!
These were the days of arranged marriages and young people often had little or no say about whom they would marry. In the absence of even the most basic information on sex and relationships, the coming of age can unfold in darkness and confusion and with deadly force. I am glad we are moving towards a time of greater intimacy between parents and children. The cruel parents do not relent in this story and they may even have told her that he was dead. This version of the Silver Dagger I learned from C.C. Lum in the Chapell collection and it contains several unique and touching verses. Lum has one of the most mournfull sounding voices I ever heard.

lyrics

Silver Dagger

young men and maidens pay attention
to these few lines I'm going to write
concerning a man whose name I'll not mention
for once he courted a fair young maid

as soon as her parents came to know this
they strove to part them day and night
they strove to part her and her own dear jewel
who was her sole and hearts delight

so on her bended knee she bowed
saying oh cruel parents pity me
if I can't marry my own dear jewel
what will this whole world do with me

she wandered out all broken hearted
she roamed the fields and meadows around
she wandered out across the broad river
and under the shade of a tree sat down

she sat down all broken hearted
she leaned her back against a tree
she sighed as she said shall I now end it
or will I near my true love be

she took out a silver dagger
and she pierced it through her wounded heart
saying let this be a doleful warning
to all young lovers who have to part


her true love was not far behind her
he heard her make her sad sweet moan
he come riding out like one distracted
saying oh my love I'm left alone

her pretty blue eyes like diamonds opened
as she lay bleeding at his feet
prepare to meet me on Mount Zion
where all our joys will be complete

he picked up her bleeding body
he rolled her over in his arms
is there no friend or foe can save her
she is my sole and hearts delight

then he picked up the bloody weapon
and he pierced it through his wounded heart
saying let this be a dole full warning
to all young lovers who have to part

credits

from Green Are The Woods, released June 13, 1999
Learned from C.C. Lum, L. W. Chappell Collection 1939

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Helena Triplett Faust Wellington, New Zealand

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