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Edward

from "Rule of Thumb" by Sean Smith

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about

A murder ballad learned from the singing of Nic Jones, one of the giants of thumb/finger-style guitar, of course. There are many variants throughout the British Isles and elsewhere, among them “My Son David,” “Son Come Tell It Unto Me,” “Two Turtle Doves,” “What Put the Blood?” and “Lucy Wan,” that have been collected far and wide, including by Francis J. Child in his famous anthology.

lyrics

What's that blood all on your shirt
Son, come tell to me?
It is the blood of my own greyhound
He wouldn't run with me, with me
He wouldn't run with me

But it's too red for your greyhound's blood
Son, come tell to me
It is the blood of my own gray mare
She wouldn't hunt with me, with me

But it's too pale for your gray mare's blood
Son, come tell to me
It is the blood of my own dear brother
He wouldn't ride with me, with me

And what were you two a-quarreling about
Son, come tell to me?
It's all about a little holly bush
And it might've made a tree, a tree

And what will you do when your father comes to know
Son, come tell to me?
I'll sail away in a little sailing boat
And I'll sail across the sea, the sea

And what will you do with your pretty little wife
Son, come tell to me?
She'll come along in my little sailing boat
And she'll sail along with me, with me

And what will you do with your eldest son
Son, come tell to me?
I'll leave him here for you to raise
And to rock all on your knee, your knee

And when will you come back again
Son, come tell to me?
When the sun and the moon are on yonder hill
And I know that will never be, never be

credits

from "Rule of Thumb", released November 6, 2017

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Sean T. Smith Boston, Massachusetts

Sean Smith has been playing folk music since his teens, with a focus on the traditions of Ireland, Scotland and England in particular. He's been active in the Greater Boston music scene since the early '80s, and been part of numerous collaborations. He also writes about music for BostonIrish.com, helps organize an annual Celtic music festival, and has been known to drink Ballantine Ale. ... more

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