Wild Boy, The [Laws B20]

DESCRIPTION: The singer, guilty of murder and robbery, is arrested and jailed. His family deserts him, but a rich uncle bails him out. He vows to give up his wild ways.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1927 (Craddock)
KEYWORDS: family reprieve
FOUND IN: US(SW)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Laws B20, "The Wild Boy"
DT 842, WILDBOY
Roud #3241
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Limbo" (theme)
NOTES [94 words]: The first stanza begins "My parents raised me ten-der-lee, They had no child but me, But I was bent on rambling-- With them I couldn't agree" and the story continues with bad company and jail. The composer seems familiar with "Limbo" and its rescue and conversion by a rich uncle of a rake to an honest man who has learned to shun the girls that "gurgle" over his money; here the "Wild Boy" is rescued and converted by a rich uncle to an honest man and we are led to believe "Agnes and ... Mabel, ... Mary likewise" will not get the better of him in the future. - BS
File: LB20

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