Old Elm Tree, The

DESCRIPTION: The singer recalls old elm tree by the mill where he courted Laura. They become engaged, he goes to sea. In his absence, others convince her he was untrue. She dies for love and is buried beneath the old elm tree
AUTHOR: Words: Sarah S. Bolton/Music: Joseph Philbrick Webster
EARLIEST DATE: 1871
KEYWORDS: courting sea death burial
FOUND IN: US(MW,NE,So) Canada(Newf)
REFERENCES (6 citations):
Dean-FlyingCloud, pp. 27-28, "The Old Elm Tree" (1 text)
Belden-BalladsSongsCollectedByMissourFolkloreSociety, p. 221, "The Old Elm Tree" (1 text)
Randolph 708, "The Old Elm Tree" (1 text)
McNeil-SouthernFolkBalladsVol2, pp. 174-176, "The Old Elm Tree" (1 text, 1 tune)
Leach-FolkBalladsSongsOfLowerLabradorCoast 47, "The Old Elm Tree" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, OLDELM*
Roud #2795
RECORDINGS:
Eugene Jemison, "The Old Elm Tree" (on Jem01)
File: R708

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List

Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography