Songcatcher

(woman singing)

(music) All in the merry month of May (music)

(music) When green leaves

were a-springing (music)

(music) This young man

on his deathbed lay (music)

(music) For the love of Barbara Allen (music)

(music) He sent his man

unto her then (music)

(music) To the town

where she was dwelling (music)

(music) "You must come

to my master, dear (music)

(music) If your name

be Barbara Allen" (music)

(music) So slowly, slowly

she got up (music)

(music) And slowly

she came to him (music)

(music) And all she said

when she came there (music)

(music) "Young man,

I think you're dying" (music)

(music) He turned his face

unto the wall (music)

(music) And death came

creeping to him (music)

(music) Adieu, adieu,

and adieu to all (music)

(music) And adieu

to Barbara Allen (music)

(music) When he was dead

and laid in his grave (music)

(music) Then death came

creeping to her (music)

(music) O mother, mother,

make my bed (music)

(music) For his death

hath quite undone me (music)

(music) And so this maid

she then did die (music)

(music) And desired

to be buried by him (music)

(music) And repented she

before she died (music)

(music) That e'er she did

deny him. (music)

Now...

there you have a fine example

of an old English ballad,

a folk song, defined

as that which is created

by the common people,

the unskilled.

The melodies

are quaint and primitive,

but you must learn

to appreciate

not only

the sociological value,

but the simple purity

of emotion in the song.

(humming)

Oh.

Good afternoon,

Dean Pembroke.

I wanted to catch you today,

Dr. Penleric.

I wanted to tell you

that the appointment committee

has reviewed your application

for full professor.

And we've concluded

unanimously

that we can not

offer you the position.

However, we hope

you will continue on

as an associate professor

at your current salary level,

of course.

Dr. Penleric:
Why, may I ask,

am I being passed over again?

It is not customary

to be asked

to defend our position,

Dr. Penleric.

It appears we have

an opportunity

to offer the position to

the eminent English musicologist

and ballad collector,

Cyrus Whittle,

who as you know, has almost

single-handedly created

a revival

of the English folk song.

Oh, Dean Pembroke.

Excuse me.

What is it, Professor Aldrich?

Nothing, sir, I just stopped by

for a few words with Dr. Penleric.

Well, I was just leaving.

Good day, Dr. Penleric.

(door closes)

I argued for you, Lily,

as emphatically as I dared.

I have waited longer

and published more

than anyone else

in this department.

Frankly,

I was the only man for you.

Dr. Penleric:
Really?

Dean Pembroke said

the vote was unanimous.

I was afraid someone

would suspect something.

Dr. Whittle is

a brilliant man.

Of course he is,

that's not the point!

Lily,

I've arranged

the family's whole summer

so I can come into town

to see you every week.

I won't be here, Wallace.

Where are you going?

As far away as possible.

Please don't go away.

I know how disappointed

you must be, my darling, but...

Lily, wait.

Why don't I meet you

at your apartment?

My wife won't be home

until quite late.

Are you mad, Lily?

What if someone walked in?

You coward!

Backing my appointment

was the only thing

I ever asked you for.

But...

(rooster crowing)

You Miss Elna's sister?

Yes, yes, yes, I am.

I'm here to take you

to Clover.

I'm Fate Honeycutt.

What's your name?

Oh, hello,

I'm Dr. Lily Penleric.

A doctor, huh?

That's just fine.

We could sure use

another healer.

Oh, I'm not a medical doctor.

Well, what kind are you?

I'm a doctor of music,

sort of an expert.

I see.

Thank you.

Well, hop on up, Doc.

Here, just put your foot

on the wheel there.

I'll help you up.

Fate:
Giddup.

Fate:
Giddup.

What if we meet

another wagon

coming down the mountain?

That would be something.

Oh!

(distant banjo music plays)

Someone's playing music?

- Oh, Lily!

- Eleanor.

It's been so long.

Yes.

I thought you said it was

only five miles to Clover.

Woman:
She meant

"mountain miles."

Used to take three days

to get up here.

This is my sister, Lily.

Lily, this is my colleague

and friend, Harriet Tolliver.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

This is Deladis Slocumb.

Deladis has no family,

so we get to keep her here

full time.

How do you do, ma'am?

How do you do?

Elna's told me

so much about you.

"Elna"?

Oh, that's what

everyone here calls me.

It's caught on with me, too.

I suppose it's a lot better

than "Little Elf,"

which is what

I used to call her.

(chuckling)

You must be exhausted.

I am.

Excuse me.

Would you like to rest

before supper?

Uh...

- Could you help me, dearest?

- Yes, I'm sorry.

Thank you so much.

It's very hot.

I know.

Along with

the basic curriculum,

we also teach hygiene

and nutrition to the girls.

And music, of course.

Deladis, why don't you

serve the tea?

Deladis,

what a beautiful name.

That's a real pretty fan.

Thank you, dear.

It's from Spain.

(crow cawing)

Thank you, dear.

Aren't you frightened here?

What of?

Oh, savage mountaineers.

Reports of violence

are horrible.

(laughing)

Horribly exaggerated,

that is.

Deladis,

why don't you sing

one of your pretty songs

for my sister?

Oh, please, please do.

I would like that.

(music) 'Twas in the merry

month of May (music)

(music) When all gay flowers

were a-bloomin' (music)

(music) Sweet William

on his deathbed lay (music)

(music) For the love

of Barbry Allen (music)

(music) He sent his servant

to the town (music)

(music) He sent him

to her dwelling (music)

(music) Sayin', "Master's sick (music)

(music) and very sick (music)

(music) And for your sake

he's a-dyin'." (music)

Deladis, where did you

learn that song?

My granny gave it to me.

Was your grandmother

from England?

You mean, across the ocean?

No, no.

Granny lived and died

right here in the mountains.

Lily:
Then where

did she learn it?

Granny said she got

all those love songs

from her mama.

Do you know

any more ballads?

love songs.

Oh. I know lots of them.

I know "Lord Randall,"

uh... uh...

"Jacqueline Is Sailing,"

"Two Sisters."

I know "Young Emily."

Would you sing

"Two Sisters," please?

Harriet:
It's all right, dear.

(music) O sister, o sister

come go with me... (music)

Lily... I told you

never to call me here.

I'm calling

as a colleague, Wallace.

- Where are you?

- The southern mountains.

What on earth are you doing

in such a dreadful place?

Lily:
Never mind that.

I'm telephoning because I made

a great discovery.

Old English ballads.

What are you talking about?

Lily:
The mountain people

brought the ballads here

over 200 years ago.

The same songs

that Cyrus Whittle

has been collecting

in England,

songs which haven't been known

there for at least 100 years!

- What of it, Lily?

- Woman:
Wally?

I want you to come home.

Don't you understand?

These may be the purest

versions in existence.

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