Springfield Mountain (OT2003-3014-006)
Dublin Core
Title
Springfield Mountain (OT2003-3014-006)
Alternative Title
The Only Son
Description
Song excerpted from audio recording OT2003-3014, part of VFC2003-0007 Margaret MacArthur Collection.
Creator
Source
Margaret MacArthur Collection -- VFC2003-0007. Vermont Folklife Center Archive, Vermont Folklife Center, Middlebury, Vermont, United States of America.
Date Created
1964-07-17
Contributor
Is Part Of
Language
en
Type
Identifier
VFC2003-0007 OT2003-3014-006
Rights Holder
Vermont Folklife Center
Song Item Type Metadata
Local Title
The Only Son
Standard Title
Springfield Mountain
Standard Title Reference
Folk Music Index (http://www.ibiblio.org/folkindex)
Laws, Malcolm. Native American Balladry: A Descriptive Study and a Bibliographical Syllabus. American Folklore Society (Philadelphia, 1950). 213-4.
Transcription
[Singing starts at 0:16]
On Springfield Mountain there did dwell
A pretty youth I knew full well
'Twas elder Merritt's only son
A phantom youth near twenty one
On Monday morning he did go
Into the meadow for to mow
He had not mowed quite round the field
When a poison serpent bit his heel
For he recovered received to see his fatal wound
He dropped his scythe upon the ground
And straight for home was his intent
He cried alound all as he went
His friends around him all did hear
And none of them to him came near
Thinking he did some unknown call
He quite quite alone was doom did fall
He laid him down composed to rest
And crossed his arms upon his breast
His mouth and eyes were closen fast
And time and thus poor lad he slept at last
As as dark and darksome night was coming on
The father went to see his son
And then his dearest boy was found
Dead as a stone upon the ground
No consolation did he did he did
Not consolation did her him leave
That angels might his soul receive
He could but know that he was gone
His hopes and pride his only son
References:
On Springfield Mountain there did dwell
A pretty youth I knew full well
'Twas elder Merritt's only son
A phantom youth near twenty one
On Monday morning he did go
Into the meadow for to mow
He had not mowed quite round the field
When a poison serpent bit his heel
For he recovered received to see his fatal wound
He dropped his scythe upon the ground
And straight for home was his intent
He cried alound all as he went
His friends around him all did hear
And none of them to him came near
Thinking he did some unknown call
He quite quite alone was doom did fall
He laid him down composed to rest
And crossed his arms upon his breast
His mouth and eyes were closen fast
And time and thus poor lad he slept at last
As as dark and darksome night was coming on
The father went to see his son
And then his dearest boy was found
Dead as a stone upon the ground
No consolation did he did he did
Not consolation did her him leave
That angels might his soul receive
He could but know that he was gone
His hopes and pride his only son
References:
- "The only son," typewritten Atwood family lyrics owned by Margaret MacArthur, archived at the Vermont Folklife Center.
- Tristam Coffin. In A Good Tale and a Bonnie Tune. Dallas, Texas: Southern Methodist University Press. 1964. p. 202-3.
- "The Springfield Ballad". The Middlebury Register (Middlebury, Vermont). May 30, 1855. p. 1.
Location
Duration
2:30
Files
Collection
Citation
Atwood, Fred, “Springfield Mountain (OT2003-3014-006),” Vermont Folklife Center Digital Collections, accessed April 30, 2025, https://vtfolklifearchive.org/collections/items/show/1193.
Position: 692 (540 views)