The Rolling of the Stones
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Lesley Nelson-Burns
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Lyrics
This is a variant of The Two Brothers, collected in the Appalachians. The first mention of the ballad in print is an inquiry for more information by Jamieson in The Scots Magazine, 1803.

The story is said to be based on an incident in 1589 that occurred near Edinburgh. One of the Somervilles accidentally shot and killed his brother. According to Child another possible origin for the story took place in 1682 when a thirteen year old boy killed his brother because his brother had been pulling his hair.

The tune is Child Ballad #49 (The Twa Brothers).

Variants and alternate titles include: The Cruel Brother, The Twa Brithers, The Wood o Warslin', and John and William. This version is from Maine.

In most of the variants the death is accidental, however, in some it is murder. In a German version the bride is killed by her brother.

For a complete list of Child Ballads at this site see Francis J. Child Ballads.

Will you go to the rolling of the stones
Or the dancing of the ball?
Or will you go and see pretty Susie
And dance among them all

I will not go to the rolling of the stones
Or the tossing of the ball
But I will go and see pretty Susie
And dance among them all

They hadn't danced but a single dance
More than once or twice around
Before the sword at her true love's side
Gave him his fatal wound

They picked him up and carried him away
For he was sore distressed
They carried him and buried him all
     in the greenwoods
Where he was wont to rest

Pretty Susie she came awandering by
With a tablet under her arm
Until she came to her true love's grave
And she began to charm

She charmed the fish out of the sea
And the birds out of their nests
She charmed her true love out of his grave
So he could no longer rest

Will you go to the rolling of the stones
Or the dancing of the ball?
Or will you go and see pretty Susie
And dance among them all

I will not go to the rolling of the stones
Or the tossing of the ball
But I will go and see pretty Susie
And dance among them all
Related Links
From Folk Songs of Old New England and
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads
See Bibliography for full information.
And The Mudcat Cafe.