This was brought to mind by the 'Carter's Blues' thread. Meade points out in his discography that the 'Carter's Blues' lyric is related to 'Love Has Brought Me to Despair' [Laws P25] which may be found in the DT HERE. The Hotmud Family recorded a different version of 'Love Has Brought Me to Despair' on their 'Live as we know it' LP [Flying Fish 087]. They note that their source was from the singing of Berzilla Wallin. Berzilla recorded the song for John Cohen in the 1960s and it was issued on Various Artists 'Old Love Songs & Ballads from the Big Laurel, North Carolina' Folkways 02309. Does anyone have that album? If so, could they post any note that Cohen may have made to this song?

Below is my transcription from the Hotmud Family. It was a fine duet performance from Suzanne Edmundson and Rick Good. Lovely song!

LOVE HAS BROUGHT ME TO DESPAIR

My father he was a rich old jay
My mother she was a lady fair
And me a-bein' the only heir
So love has brought me to despair

It's when I wore my long silk gown
He followed me from town to town
But now my apron just won't tie
He'll pass my door, but he won't stop by

There is a street in yonders town
Where my true love walks up and down
He takes another girl on his knee
And he tells to her what he won't tell me

There is a flower I've heard them say
For broken hearts both night and day
And of these flowers I have pulled
Until I got my apron full

But not one flower could I find
To mend my heart or ease my mind
And in green valleys all around
I thought I heard some doleful sound

My father he was a rich old jay
My mother she was a lady fair
And me a-bein' the only heir
So love has brought me to despair

Source: transcription from Hotmud Family 'Live as we know it' Flying Fish LP 087 [1979].

--Stewie.