On the Road with Silver John: "Vandy, Vandy"

[For previous ballads about the balladeer, click the "On the Road with Silver John" label under Features in the right sidebar.]


"Vandy, Vandy"

While spending the night with a family of rustics
A watchful John finds himself suddenly spellbound,
And the comely daughter Vandy in risk of abduction
By an ancient warlock whose soul is ultimately hellbound.

John fights his constraint, attempts to free himself
With holy words and sheer physical persistence.
But when he manages at last to toss his silver coin
He receives some ghostly governmental assistance.



Manly Wade Wellman's short story "Vandy, Vandy" can be found in the collection Owls Hoot in the Daytime & Other Omens.