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Dear Companion

[ Roud 411 ; Ballad Index R755 ; VWML CJS2/9/2364 ; DearCompanion at Old Songs ; DT DEARCOMP ; Mudcat 71063 ; trad.]

Cecil J. Sharp: English Folk Songs From the Southern Appalachians

Rosie Hensley of Carmen, Madison Country, North Carolina, sang Dear Companion on 8 August 1916 to Cecil Sharp [VWML CJS2/9/2364] . It was printed in Volume 2 of English Folk Songs From the Southern Appalachians and in the EFDSS book of Appalachian traditional songs and singers from the Cecil Sharp Collection, Dear Companion.

Mrs Ella Shelton from Alleghany, North Carolina sang The Dear Companion on 19 August 1955 to Maud Karpeles. This recording was included in 2017 on the Musical Traditions anthology of historic recordings of Appalachian singers and musicians 1927-1955, When Cecil Left the Mountains. Rod Stradling noted:

In 1916 Cecil Sharp collected a very similar version (minus the final verse) of this song from Ella Shelton’s mother, Rosie Hensley. The song comprises a number of floating verses, some of which can also be found in British folksongs, such as Go And Leave Me If You Wish It (Roud 459). The tune is also used for a number of other songs, including versions of Once I Lived in Old Virginia. Rosie Hensley’s version came be seen in the book Dear Companion (EFDSS, 2004, pp. 68-9.

Jean Ritchie sang Dear Companion in 1956 on her Riverside album Saturday Night and Sunday Too. This Alan Lomax video shows her singing it in between 1947 and 1950:

Margaret MacArthur sang Dear Companion in 1972 on the Living Folk album Pleasant and Delightful Vol. 2.

Peta Webb and Pete Cooper sang Dear Companion in 1986 on their album The Heart Is True.

Judy Cook sang Dear Companion on her 2000 album Far From the Lowlands. She noted:

Source: Songs for All Time, 80 Appalachian Songs, both from Cecil Sharp’s English Folk Songs From the Southern Appalachians, sung by Mrs. Rosie Hensley at Carmen, North Carolina, 8 August 1916.

The Furrow Collective sang Dear Companion in 2016 on their second album, Wild Hog. They noted:

Lucy [Farrell] found this song, which is common in Appalachian tradition, in The Dulcimer Book by the Kentucky singer Jean Ritchie. It also appears in her book Folk Songs of the Southern Appalachians where the notes read:

This is our family tune, and the words are ones common in my part of the country, with the exception of the last verse which I began singing a long time ago when my ‘true love’ took another girl to the pie supper!

This video shows them at The Cumberland in Newcastle, probably in September 2016:

The Long Runners sang Dear Companion in 2024 on their WildGoose album On the Run

Lyrics

Rosie Hensley sings Dear Companion

I once had a dear companion;
Indeed, I thought his love my own,
Until a black-eyed girl betrayed me,
Then he cared no more for me.

Just go leave me if you wish to,
It will never trouble me,
For in your heart you love another
And in my grave I’d rather die.

Last night while you were sweetly sleeping,
Dreaming of some sweet repose,
While me a poor girl broken, broken hearted
Listen to the wind that blows.

When I see your babe a-laughing
It makes me think of your sweet face.
But when I see your bane a-crying
It makes me think of my disgrace.

Ella Shelton sings The Dear Companion

I once did have a dear companion
Indeed I thought his love my own
Until a black-eyed girl betrayed me
Then he cares no more for me

Just go leave me if you wish to
It will never trouble me
For in your heart you love another
And in my grave I’d rather be

Last night while you were sweetly sleeping
Dreaming of some sweet repose
While me a poor girl broken-hearted
Listening to the wind that blows

When I see your babe a-laughing
It makes me think of your sweet face
But when I see your babe a-crying
It makes me think of my disgrace

There’s just three things that (?) my darling
There’s my coffin (shroud?) and grey
And when I’m dead and long forgotten
Pray kiss the girl you’ve not betrayed

Jean Ritchie sings Dear Companion

I once did have a dear companion;
Indeed, I thought his love my own,
Until some black-eyed girl betrayed me,
And now he cares no more for me.

Just go and leave me if you wish to,
Far from this lonely world I’ll flee.
For in your heart you love another
And in my grave I’d rather be.

Last night you were so sweetly sleeping,
And dreaming in some sweet repose,
While I’m a poor girl broken hearted,
Was listening to the wind that blows.

(repeat second verse)

The Furrow Collective sing Dear Companion

Once I had a dear companion;
Indeed, I thought his love my own,
Until some black-eyed girl betrayed me,
And now he cares no more for me.

Just go and leave me if you wish to,
Far from this lonely world I’ll flee,
For in your heart you love another
And in my grave I’d rather be.

Last night you were so sweetly sleeping,
Dreaming in some soft repose,
While I a poor girl broken-hearted
Was listening to the wind that blows.

I never did think of being without you,
I never did think of you being gone.
But all night long the wind keeps crying,
Farewell true love, I’m left alone.

(repeat second verse)

Links

See also the related song Go and Leave Me (Roud 459; G/D 6:1145).