My true love was a nice young man,

voice; guitarsCollected by Joe Moore Sung by Mrs. Frank Weddington For M. C. Parler Beaver, Arkansas December 23, 1964 Reel 380, Item 2 (The Maid Freed from the Gallows) I Wed My Darling at the Bowin Spring My true love was a nice young man, As ever lived or the sun shined on, And now to save him or have him tried, He's got his sentence to be hung. The first step that he took on the ladder His dear old mother was standing by, Come here, come here, my dear old mother One word to you before I die. He threw his arms around his mother A weeping oh so bitterly, Oh, how I hate to leave you mother No one on earth can tell but me. The next step that he took on the ladder His beloved sister was standing by, Come here, come here, my beloved sister one word to you before I die. He took a ring from on his finger And he wrapped it in a napkin fine, Take this, take this, my beloved sister And keep it constantly in your mind. Oh, where is my true love ain't she coming, Oh, what does detain her so long from me, or Does she think that it would disgrace her For to see me die on the gallows tree. Then looking round he saw her coming, A riding more swifter than anyone, She alit from off of the tired pony, All robed and dressed in a collins fine. Oh, hang him, hang him cried the sheriff, The good old judge was standing by, Stand back, stand back you false accusers I'll show you that he's not to die. Come down, come down from the horrid gallows, I have your pardon from Georgia the king, We'll show them that we'll be united, I'll wed my darling at the Bowing Spring. 14Funding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation