Cecil Sharp found 10 variants of Edward in the Southern Appalachians. I have included only the lyrics (no gif of the melodies) here. I have not included B, C and F because they are single line melodies with only one verse. [ A | D | E | G | H | I | J] Version A Note: Sung by Mrs. Jane Gentry At Hot Springs, N.C., August 24, 1916 1 How come that blood on your shirt sleeve? Pray, son, now tell to me. It is the blood of the old greyhound That run young fox for me. 2 It is too pale for that old greyhound Pray, son, now tell to me. It is the blood of the old grey mare That ploughed that corn for me. 3 It is too pale for that old grey mare. Pray, son, now tell to me, It is the blood of my youngest brother That hoed that corn for me. 4 What did you fall out about? Pray, son, now tell to me. Because he cut yon holly bush Which might have made a tree. 5 0 what will you tell to your father dear When he comes home from town? I'll set my foot in yonder ship And sail the ocean round. 6 0 what will you do with your sweet little wife? Pray, son, now tell to me. I'll set her foot in yonder ship To keep me company. 7 0 what will you do with your three little babes? Pray, son, now tell to me. I'll leave them here in the care of you For to keep you company. 8 0 what will you do with your house and land? Pray, son, now tell to me. I'll leave it here in care of you For to set my children free. D Note: Sung by Mr. Trotter Gann at Sevierville, Sevier Co., Tenn., April 15, 1917 1 What has come this blood on your shirt sleeve? O dear love, tell me. This is the blood of the old grey horse That ploughed that field for me, me, me, That ploughed that field for me. 2 It does look too pale for the old grey horse That ploughed that field for you, you, you, That ploughed that field for you. 3 What has come this blood on your shirt sleeve? 0 dear love, tell me. This is the blood of the old greyhound That traced that fox for me, me, me, That traced that fox for me. 4 It does look too pale for the old greyhound That traced that fox for you, you. you, That traced that fox for you. 5 What has come this blood on your shirt sleeve? 0 dear love, tell me. This is the blood of my brother-in-law That went away with me, me, me, That went away with me. 6 And it's what did you fall out about? 0 dear love, tell me. About a little bit of bush That soon would have made a tree, etc. 7 And it's what will you do now, my love? 0 dear love, tell me. I'll set my foot in yanders ship, And I'll sail across the sea, etc. 8 And it's when will you come back, my love? 0 dear love, tell me. When the sun sets into yanders sycamore tree, And it's that will never be, be, be, And it's that will never be. E Note: Sung by Mrs. Meg Shook at Clyde, Haywood Co., N.C., Aug. 2, 1917 1 How came that blood on the point of your knife? My son, come tell to me. It is the blood of my old coon dog That chased the fox for me, me, me, That chased the fox for me. 2 How come that blood, etc. It is the blood of that old horse That ploughed that field for me, etc. 3 How come that blood, etc. It is the blood of one of my brothers' Which fell out with me, etc. 4 What did you fall out about? My son, etc. We fell out about a holly-bush That would have made a tree, etc. 5 What will you do when your father comes home? I'll put my foot in a bunkum boat And sail across the sea. 6 What will you do with your dear little wife? I'll put her foot in a bunkum boat And sail across the sea. 7 What will you do with your dear little babe? I'll leave it here in this lone world To dandle on your knee. 8 And what will you do with your old gobbler? I'll leave it here with you when I'm gone To gobble after me. G Note: Sung by Mr. Ebe Richards at St. Peter's School, Callaway, Va., Aug. 18, 1918. 1 Where did you get your little blood red? My son, come tell to me. I got it out of the little grey hawk That sits on yonder tree. 2 That little grey hawk's blood was never so red. My son, come tell to me. I got it out on that little red (sometimes, grey) colt That ploughed on yonders field. 3 That little grey (or red) colt's blood was never so red. My son, come tell to me. I got it out of my poor little brother That rode away with me. 4 What are you going to do when your papa comes home? My son, come tell to me. I'll set my foot in the bottomless ship, And sail across the sea. 5When are you coming back, my son? My son, come tell to me. When the moon and sun sets in yonders hill, And that will never be. H Note: Sung by Mrs. S. V. Cannady at Endicott, Va., August 23, 1918 1 O what is this the blood of? Son, pray tell it to me. It is the blood of my good old horse That ploughed the fields for me 2 It is too red for your good old horse. Son, pray tell it to me. It is the blood of my good old cow That gave the milk for me. 3 It is too red for your good old cow. Son, pray tell it to me. It is the blood of my good old dog That ran the deer for me. 4 It is too red for your good old dog. Son, pray tell it to me. It is the blood of my good old brother That walked the road with me. 5 0 what did you and your brother fall out about? Son, pray tell it to me. We fell out about a hazel-nut bush Which might have made a hazel-nut tree. 6 0 what are you going to do? Son, pray tell it to me. I'll set my foot on yonders shore, And I'll sail across the sea. 7 What are you going to do with your pretty little wife? Son, pray tell to me. I'll set her foot on yonders shore, And she'll sail by the side of me. 8 What are you going to do with your sweet little babe? Son, pary tell to me. I'll leave it here with my papa Till I come home again. I Note: Sung by Mrs. Nanny Weaver at Woolwine, Va., August 25, 1918 (Mrs. Weaver only remembered two verses) 1 How came that blood on your shirt sleeve? My son, come tell it to me. It is my own brother's blood That fled the show for me. When the sun and moon shall set in yonders east, Which you know will never, never be. Last Stanza When will you return again? My son, come tell it to me. When the sun and moon shall set in yonders east, Which you know will never be. J Note: Sung by Mrs. Mary Gibson at Marion, N.C., Sept. 3, 1918 1 What blood is that all on your shirt? O son, come tell to me. It is the blood of the old grey mare That ploughed the corn for me, O me, That ploughed the corn for me. 2 It is too red for the old grey mare. 0 son, etc. It is the blood of the old grey hound That run the deer for me, etc. 3 It is too red for the old grey hound. It is the blood of the little guinea-pig That eat the corn for me. 4 It is too red for the little guinea-pig. It is the blood of my oldest brother That travelled along with me. 5 What did you fall out about? About a little holly bush That might have made a tree. 6 What will you do when your father comes home? I'll set my foot in a bunkum boat And sail all on the sea. 7 What will you do with your pretty little wife? I'll take her on a bunkum boat And sail along with me. 8 What will you do with your oldest son? I'll leave him here for you to raise And dance around your knees. 9 What will you do with your oldest daughter? I'll leave her here for you to raise For to remember me.