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"On Springfield Mountain" is one of the earliest American ballads, believed to commemorate the events surrounding the death of Timothy Mirick on August 7, 1761 in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. Timothy was born on May 24th, 1739 to Lieutenant Thomas Mirick and his wife, Mary. As the story goes, Timothy was engaged to be married to his village sweetheart, Sarah Lamb. However, on August 7, 1761, prior to their wedding day, Timothy set out to mow his father's field and was bitten by a rattle snake, dying shortly thereafter. This tragedy has been deemed the 'Romeo and Juliet of the new world'. The ballad, "On Springfield Mountain" is believed to have started as a dirge, but quickly became folklore throughout the colonies. Because of the popularity of the story at the time, many conflicting variations of the actual events, as well as the ballad itself, exist. The original story was immortalized in many different forms, including stage performances and other ballads that include embellished details of the event, as well as a myriad of different names. The most popular versions include a reference to Tommy Blake and Molly Bland in place of Timothy and Sarah. The following represents the original, family version of the ballad: On Springfield Mountain (Merrick Family Version)

On Springfield Mountain there did dwell A likely youth was known full well Lieutenant Mirick's only son A likel;y youth nigh twenty one

One Friday morning he did go Into the medow for to mow A round or two and he did feel A pisin sarpent at his heel

When he received his deadly wound he dropt his sithe apon the ground And strate for home was his intent calling aloude still as he went

O Molly Molly Molly dear come see this pesky sarpent here Tho all around his voice was heered none of his friends to him apiered

So soon his carful father went to seek his son with discontent And there his onley son he found ded as a stone apon the ground

GHis father vieude his track with consarn where he had rund across the corn Uneven tracks where he did go apeared to stagger to and fro

And there he lay supose to rest with both his hands acrost his brest His mouth and eyes were closed fast and there poor man he slept his last

The seventh of August sixty one this fatal axsident was done let this a warning be to all to be prepared when God doth call.

The best-known version (parody) is as follows:

"On Springfield Mountain there did dwell A comely youth I knew full well. Ri tu ri nu ri to di na Ri to di nu ri to di na One Monday morning he did go Down to the meadow for to mow He scarce had mowed half the field When a PESKY SARPENT bit his heel. He took his scythe and with a blow He laid the pesky Sarpent low. He took the Sarpent in his hand And straightway went to Molly Bland. Oh, Molly, Molly here you see The Pesky Sarpent what bit me. Now Molly had a ruby lip With which the pisen she did sip But Molly had a rotten tooth Which the Pisen struck and kill'd em both. So laid them both upon one bed. And all their friends both far and near, Did cry and howl they were so dear Now all you maids a warning take, From Molly Bland and Tommy Blake And mind when your in love don't pass, Too near to patches of high grass."