X:1
T:Sweet Evelina
M:3/8
L:1/8
R:Waltz
B:Ford - Traditional Music in America (1940, p. 149)
Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion
K:D
A2|D-FA|BA A/A/|(fd)A|(BA)d/d/|c2 c/c/|(cB)A|
(AB)A|F2F|(DF)A|(BA)A|(fd)A|(BA)d|
c2 c/c/|(cB)A |(AB)c|d2A||(fd)A|(BA)A|
(fd)A|(BA)d|c2c c2B|AA(B/c/)|d2:|
SWEET EVELINA. AKA - "Dear Evalina," "Sweet Evalina." American, Waltz and Song Tune (3/4 time). USA; Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). ABB. "Dear Evalina" was a song by an unknown author, first published in New York by E.A. Daggett in 1863. It was widely known, and told of love, poverty and separation which resonated in a time of national conflict. The title appears in a list of traditional Ozarks Mountains fiddle tunes compiled by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, published in 1954.
Way down in the meadow, where the lily first blows, Where the wind from the mountain ne'er ruffles the rose; Lived fond Evelina, the sweet little dove, The pride of the valley, the girl that I love.
Cho: Sweet Evelina, dear Evelina, My love for thee shall never, never die.
She's fair as a rose, like a lamb she is meek, And she never was known to put paint on her cheek; In the most graceful curls hangs her raven-black hair, And she never requires perfumery there.
Evelina and I, one evening in June, Took a walk all alone by the light of the moon; The planets all shone, for the heavens were clear, And I felt round the heart, oh, most mightily queer.
Three years have gone by and I've not got a dollar, Evelina still lives in the green grassy hollow. Although I am fated to marry her never, I'll love her, I'm sure, forever and ever.
Additional notes
Printed sources : - Ford (Traditional Music in America), 1940; p. 142 (additional lyrics on page 403). John Lair (100 WLS Barn Dance Favorites), 1935; p 27.
Recorded sources : - Bluebird 7348 (78 RPM), The Blue Sky Boys (c. 1938). Marimac 9059, Lynn "Chirps" Smith - "Midwestern Harvest" (1994). MSOTFA 101, Vee Latty - "Fever in the South" (1992. Originally recorded c. 1955). Supertone 9643, Arkansas Woodchopper (pseud. for Luther Ossenbrink), 1930. Victor 21188 (78 RPM), Phil Reeve & Ernest Moody (1928). Vocalion 04440 (78 RPM), W. Lee O'Daniel & the Light Crust Doughboys (1938). Yodel-Ay-Hee 1-8327, Critton Hollow String Band - "Poor Boy" (1979).
See also listing at : Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]
Hear Oklahoma fiddler Burrell Reed's home recording by Chris Delaney at Slippery Hill [2]
See the Ballad Index entry for the song [3]
