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MISTLETOE BOUGH Sung by: Dee Johnson of Tucson, Arizona Recorded in Mountain View, AR 4/20/63 Click here to listen to the original recording The mistletoe hung in the castle hall, The holly branch shone on the old oak wall, And the baron’s retainers were blithe and gay, And keeping their Christmas holiday. The baron beheld with a father’s pride His beautiful child, young Lovell’s bride, But she, with her bright eyes, seemed to be The star of that goodly company. “I’m weary of dancing now,” she cried, “Here tarry a moment, I’ll hide, I’ll hide, But Lovell, be sure thou art first to trace The clue to my secret hiding place.” Away she ran and her friends began Each corner to search and each nook to scan, And young Lovell cried, “Oh, where dost thou hide? I’m lonely without thee, my fair young bride.” He sought her that night, and he sought the next day. He sought her in vain while a week passed away. In the highest, the lowest, the loneliest spot, Young Lovell sought wildly, but found her not. The year flew by, and his grief at last Was told as a sorrowful tale long past, And when Lovell appeared, the children cried, “See the old man weep for his fair young bride.” Oh, that mistletoe bough. At length an oak chest that was long lain hid Was found in the castle; they raised the lid, And a skeleton form lay moldering there In the bridal wreath of that lady fair. Oh, sad was her fate; in sportive jest She hid from her lord in the old oak chest. It closed with a spring and, dreadful doom, The bride lay clasped in her living tomb. Oh, that mistletoe bough. Oh, that mistletoe bough. Also found in Randolph, Vol. IV, #802. |
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All Songs Recorded by John Quincy Wolf, Jr., unless otherwise noted The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection Lyon College, Batesville, Arkansas Back to the Song Index Back to the Wolf Collection Homepage ©Copyright 2002 Lyon College |