Effects of Love, The

DESCRIPTION: William [W.E.] courted and promised to marry Betsy Watson [B.W.], the singer. He deserted her and her baby. She sends him a letter saying "false man adieu I drown myself for love of you." She asks that eight maidens in white escort her to her grave.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1845 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 11(1047))
KEYWORDS: grief seduction suicide nonballad baby
FOUND IN: Britain(England(Lond),Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Greig/Duncan6 1160, "The Effects of Love" (3 texts, 2 tunes)
OShaughnessy/Grainger-TwentyOneLincolnshireFolkSongs 1, "Betsy Walton" (1 text, 1 tune)
Purslow-TheConstantLovers, pp. 85-86, "Sarah Wilson" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #1493
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 11(1047), "The Effects of Love, by a young lady who drowned herself" ("Young lovers all I pray draw near"), W. Stephenson (Gateshead), 1821-1838; also Firth c.18(155), Firth c.18(156), Johnson Ballads 183, Harding B 25(572), Harding B 6(18), Harding B 11(1046), Harding B 11(1049), Harding B 11(1048), Firth b.28(25a) View 2 of 2[some illegible lines], 2806 b.11(268), "The Effects of Love"
Murray, Mu23-y4:016, "Effects Of Love," John Ross (Newcastle), 19C
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Butcher Boy" [Laws P24] (theme) and references there
cf. "My Blue-Eyed Boy" (theme)
cf. "Must I Go Bound" (theme)
cf. "Love Has Brought Me To Despair" [Laws P25] (theme)
cf. "Died for Love" (I) (theme) and references there
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Miss B.W.
Miss Watson
Betsy Watson.
NOTES [40 words]: Although there are a few traditional collections, it probably will not surprise anyone to observe that this is known mostly from broadsides. I can't think of any widespread traditional song which refers to lovers by their initials.... - RBW
Last updated in version 4.2
File: GrD61160

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