The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

WHEN EARLY MORN

WHEN EARLY MORNING'S RUDDY LIGHT,
BIDS MAN TO LABOR GO,
WE HASTE WITH SCYTHES, ALL SHARP AND BRIGHT,
THE MEADOW'S GRASS TO MOW.
WE MOWERS DEL DE REL DEY,
WE CUT THE LILLIES AND HA, HA, HA
HA, HA, HA, HEY DEY, DEY, YES HEY DEY, DEY.
WE CUT THE LILLIES AND HAY.
HEY, DEY, DEY, YES HEY DEY DEY
WE CUT THE LILLIES AND HAY.

THE MAIDENS COME IN GLADSOME TRAIN,
AND SKIP ALONG THEIR WAY,
THE MAIDENS DEL, DE, REL, DEY
THEY CUT THE LILLIES AND HA, HA, HA,
HA, HA, HA, HEY DEY DEY, YES HEY DEY, DEY,
THEY CUT THE LILLIES AND HAY.
HEY DEY DEY, YES HEY DEY DEY
THEY CUT THE LILLIES AND HAY.

Submitter comment:

MAY 17, 1965: I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MY MOTHER SAYING THAT
MY FATHER GO UP TO GAYLORD WHERE THEY HAVE A SMALL PLOT OF LAND WHICH
MY MOTHER LIVES IN DEARBORN, MICHIGAN, BUT DURING THE SUMMER SHE AND
THEY "FARM".
SHE SENT ME THE SONG WHICH APPEARS ON THE OTHER SIDE FROM GAYLORD.
AT THE END OF HER NOTE, SHE WROTE:
"IN 1912 I SANG THAT (THE SONG) IN MRS. BESSIE SPEARS 4TH
ROOM AT CASTNER SCHOOL, DONORA, PA."
THE SONG WAS SUNG FROM A BOOK, BUT THAT SHE STILL REMEMBERS THE TUNE.

Was possibly once a work song.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Gaylord

Keyword(s): Ballad ; Lyrics ; RHYME ; SONG ; Tune

Date learned: 05-11-1965