Katie Morey [Laws N24]

DESCRIPTION: The singer tries to seduce Katie. He lures her into the woods and threatens to kill her if she will not submit. She seems to consent, but warns the youth to climb a tree until her father passes. She then insults him and runs away, leaving him far behind
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1856 (Thompson-APioneerSongster)
KEYWORDS: seduction bargaining trick escape rape
FOUND IN: US(Ap,MA,MW,NE,SE)
REFERENCES (15 citations):
Laws N24, "Katie Morey"
Bronson 112, "The Baffled Knight" (40 versions) -- but #26-33 (his Appendix A) are "The New-Mown Hay," which may be separate, and #34-#39 (his Appendix B) are "Katie Morey" [Laws N24] which is certainly separate
Eddy-BalladsAndSongsFromOhio 19, "The Baffled Knight" (1 text, 1 tune, listed as Child #112 but clearly this piece) {Bronson's #39}
Flanders-AncientBalladsTraditionallySungInNewEngland3, pp. 89-99, "The Baffled Knight" (5 texts, but the "A" text is from "The Charms of Melody" rather than tradition and "B-I" through "B-IV" are "Katie Morey" rather than "The Baffled Knight" [Child 112])
Sharp-EnglishFolkSongsFromSouthernAppalachians 115, "Katie Morey" (2 texts plus a fragment, 3 tunes) {Bronson's #34, #37, #35}
Gardner/Chickering-BalladsAndSongsOfSouthernMichigan 161, "Kitty O'Noory" (1expurgated text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #36}
Randolph/Legman-RollMeInYourArms II, pp. 594-597, "Katey Morey" (5 texts)
Jones-MinstrelOfTheAppalachians-Bascom-Lamar-Lunsford, pp. 203-204, "Tumble Di I Dye Ding Dye A (Katy Morey)" (1 text, 1 tune)
Cazden/Haufrecht/Studer-FolkSongsOfTheCatskills 129, "Katey Morey" (1 text, 1 tune)
Thompson-APioneerSongster 3, "Katie Mora" (1 text)
Thompson-BodyBootsAndBritches-NewYorkStateFolktales, pp. 411-413, "Katie Mora" (1 text)
Lomax/Lomax-OurSingingCountry, pp. 122-124, "Katy Dorey" (1 text, 1 tune)
Beck-FolkloreOfMaine, pp. 110-112, "Kitty O'Morey" (1 text, 1 tune)
Sharp/Karpeles-EightyEnglishFolkSongs 52, "Katie Morey" (1 text, 1 tune) {Bronson's #34}
DT (112), KATYMORY*
Roud #674
RECORDINGS:
Betty Garland, "Katy Dory" (on BGarland01)
Bobby McMillon, "Katie Morey" (Fragment: Piotr-Archive #30, recorded 03/11/2021; Piotr claims it is this song, but the recording is so noisy that I literally could not make out the words)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Baffled Knight" [Child 112]
cf. "As I Walked Out Into Her Hall" (plot)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Katie Dorie
Miss Kitty O'Horey
The Shrewd Maiden
NOTES [114 words]: Authorities differ on whether this ballad, in either its polite or bawdy versions, is related to "The Baffled Knight" (Child 112). - EC
As the notes to Bronson show, though, it is sometimes lumped with that ballad (e.g. by Eddy-BalladsAndSongsFromOhio). As always, readers are advised to check entries under Child #112 for completeness. I unhesitatingly agree with Laws in considering them separate. - RBW
At least for Eddy-BalladsAndSongsFromOhio and Thompson-APioneerSongster, the singer reconsiders Katie's virtues after he is fooled, she consents to marry him, and they live happily "in love and passion." - BS
So also in the Shoemaker-MountainMinstrelsyOfPennsylvania version. - RBW
Last updated in version 6.7
File: LN24

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