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LITTLE LONA (POOR OMA WISE; POOR NAOMI) Sung by: Almeda Riddle Recorded in Miller, AR 8/22/57 Click here to listen to the original recording And bring me some money and other fine things. My parents have driven me away from their door, Because I will promise to see you no more." "Now, I've brought you no money; let me tell you the case. We'll go and get married; then there'll be no disgrace. Come, get up behind me, and away we will ride, 'Til we come to a fair city; there I'll make you my bride." She got up behind him, and away they did go, But they came to deep waters where the islands o'erflow. "Little Lonie, little Lonie, I will tell you my mind; My mind is for to drownd you and to leave you behind." "Lord Lewis, Lord Lewis, won't you spare me my life? Let me go on a-begging if I can't be your wife." "No pity, no pity, no mercy have I; Down into these waters your body must lie." He drownded little Lonie in the waters deep and wide; Then he rode away from his own promised bride. He rode to the ocean, then he sailed the other side, And he thought of little Lonie and how she had died. He wrote his confessions and sent them all around To the friends of little Lonie, that she might be found. Come shoot me or hang me, for I am the man That drownded little Lonie in the waters so grand. Also found in Randolph, Vol. II, #149, "Poor Oma Wise"; Brown, Vol. II, #300, "Poor Naomi"; Belden, p. 322, "Oma Wise." |
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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 |