Constant Farmer's Son

'Tis of a comely maiden living by a riverside,
She was both tall and beautiful, they called her the village pride.
Rich lords came to court her but their love was all in vain
For there was one, a farmer's son, young Mary's heart did gain.

They pledged their love together and planned their wedding day.
Her mother and father gave their consent, but her brothers this did say:
"There is a squire now courting you, and him you must not shun,
Or else, this day we will betray your constant farmer's son."

Those brothers they got ready and then they went straightway
To seek young Willy's company, for to spend with him one day;
But on the way returning home his glass of life was run —
'Twas with a knife they took the life of her constant farmer's son.

Young Mary on her pillow lay, that night could get no rest,
With thoughts of her own Willy burning deep within her breast.
Mary arose, put on her clothes and to seek her love did run,
It was dead and cold she did behold her constant farmer's son.

It was dead and cold she did behold him bleeding in yon grove.
The tears ran down her lovely face, she kissed him o'er and o'er.
She plucked the green leaves from the trees for to shade him from the sun;
It was night and day she pined away for her constant farmer's son.

Till hunger came approaching this fair one all alone,
To seek her brothers' company she quickly went home.
Saying: "Brothers dear, you soon shall hear of the cruel deed you've done —
You have done the deed and now must bleed like my constant farmer's son."

Up speaks the eldest brother: "I'm sure it was not me!"
Up speaks the youngest brother who swore most bitterly;
"Oh brothers dear, you need not swear for the cruel deed you've done,
You'll rue the day that you did slay my constant farmer's son!"

Those brothers they were taken and very soon were tried,
Young Mary on her pillow lay, she never ceased to cry.
Those brothers they decayed away, for their glass of life was run.
Young Mary sighed and in sorrow died for her constant farmer's son.

####.... Author unknown. Variant of a British broadside ballad, The Constant Farmer's Son [Laws M33] American Balladry From British Broadsides (G. Malcolm Laws, 1957). Also a variant of a 19th century British broadside ballad, The Merchant's Daughter And Constant Farmer's Son, published by J. Pitts (London) sometime between 1819 and 1844, and archived at the Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads, shelfmark: Harding B 11(3995) ....####

This variant was collected 1979 from Johnny Tobias Pearson of Southeast Bight, by Genevieve Lehr and Anita Best and published as #25 in Come And I Will Sing You: A Newfoundland Songbook, pp.42-43, edited by Genevieve Lehr (University of Toronto Press © 1985/2003).

Anita Best noted that this is a song she learned from Tobias Pearson of Merasheen, NL. It is a version of a very old song known variously as The Pot Of Basil and The Cruel Brothers.