But now I must depart from thee
And nevermore return.
My loving wife, don’t grieve fer me,
Neither lament nor mourn;
Fer I will with my Jesus be,
And dwell upon his charm.
The tune is attributed in the Harp of Columbia to W. Atchley. It belongs to what I have called (Introduction, [p. 14]) the ‘Hallelujah’ type of melody. See ‘Hallelujah’ for other related spiritual tunes. A secular song using the same melodic formula is ‘Virginia Lover’, Sharp, ii., 150. The text of ‘Farewell’ is recorded from oral tradition and reproduced from White Spirituals, 202. See ‘[Hicks’ Farewell]’ in this collection as to the authorship of the words.
No. 26
[WICKED POLLY], WS 190
Hexatonic mode 4, b (I II 3 IV V — 7)
