Young Edward, the Driver Boy

Cat. #0320 (MFH #144) - As sung by Mr. Fred High, High, Arkansas on February 11, 1959

VERSE 1
Young Edward was a driver boy
Who drove th lonesome main
Who drove th main, some gold to gain
Down in the low lands low

VERSE 2
Miss Emily was a lady gay
Who loved th driver boy
Who drove th main, some gold to gain
Down in the low lands low

VERSE 3
My Father keeps a public house
Down by the silvery side
And you'll go there and enter in
This night you will abide

VERSE 4
Young Edward, is your name, says she
Don't let my parents know
Or they'll send your body a-sailing
Down in the low lands low

VERSE 5
Young Edward kept on smoking
Till time to go to bed
For little was he a-dreaming
That sorrow crowned his head

VERSE 6
William says to his Dad,
His gold will make a show
We'll send his body a-sailing
Down in the low lands low

VERSE 7
Young Edward had but got to bed
And scarcely got to sleep
Till Emily's cruel parents
Into his room did creep

VERSE 8
They stobbed him, dragged him from his bed
And to th seas, did go
And they sent his body a-sailing
Down in the low lands low

VERSE 9
Miss Emily went to bed that night
She had a frightful dream
She dreamed her true love bathing
The blood run down in streams

VERSE 10
Miss Emily 'rose, put on her clothes
And to her parents, did go
Says, Mother dear, where is my boy
Who drove th low lands low

VERSE 11
He's dead and gone, no tongue can tell
Is thus, th Father replied
I sent his body a-sailing
Down by th silvery side

VERSE 12
O Father, cruel Father
You'll die a public show
For th murdering of my driver boy
Who drove th low lands low

VERSE 13
The cold chills in th mountains
Is a tossing to and fro
Reminds me of my driver boy
Who drove th low lands low

VERSE 14
The fish that's in th ocean
Swims o'er poor Edwards breast
His body lying mouldering
And I hope his souls at rest

Variants