Ommie Wise - G. B. Grayson

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About

Ommie Wise played by G. B. Grayson

Recording place: Atlanta, Georgia

Recording date: October 18, 1927

Duration: 3:11

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Lyrics

I'll tell you all a story about Ommie Wise
How she was deluded by John Louis' lies.

He told her to meet him at Adams's Springs;
He'd bring her some money and some other fine things.
He brought her no money nor no other fine things,
But, "Get up behind me, Ommie, to Squire Ellett's we'll go."

She got up behind him, "So caref'llie we'll go."
They rode 'till they came where deep waters did flow.
John Lewis, he concluded to tell her his mind;
John Lewis, he concluded to leave her behind.

She threw her arms around him, "John, spare me my life,
And I'll go distracted and never be your wife."

He threw her arms from round him, and into the water she plunged.
John Lewis, he turned 'round and rode back to Adams's Hall.
He went, enquired for Ommie, but, "Ommie, she is not here.
She's gone to some neighbour's house and won't be gone very long."

John Lewis was took a pris'ner and locked up in the jail,
Was locked up in the jail around, was there to remain a while.
John Lewis, he stayed there for six months or maybe more
Until he broke jail; into the army he did go.

Source

From archive.org (http://www.archive.org/audio/audio-details-db.php?collection=opensource_audio&collectionid=Ommie)

Recorded on October 18, 1927 in Atlanta, Georgia. G. B. Grayson on fiddle and vocals. Harry Smith, editor of "The Anthology of American Folk Music," summarized "Ommie Wise" with this headline: "Greedy girl goes to Adams Spring with liar; lives just long enough to regret it." This tune is apparently based on the real life drowning of the pregnant Naomi Wise in North Carolina in 1808.