Butcher Boy- Jeannie Robertson (Aber) 1928 Henderson
[From Edinburgh; School of Scottish Studies. SA1953.247.A1 This version is not similar to Jean Stewart's or Elizabeth Stewart's versions. Also recorded in 1955 on Songs of a Scots Tinker Lady. Her daughter Lizzie sings Jeannie's version with minor changes. Online notes follow. Also
Listen: http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/play/25352;jsessionid=188816C257A0E249BBC41B53806EFCD5
http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/25352/1
R. Matteson 2016]
Item Notes - Eleven verses. Lizzie Higgins is on record as saying that this was one of her mother's favourite songs.
Summary - In this murder ballad, a butcher boy meets a young girl, whom he promises to marry. [Although not explicit in the song, the implication is that the girl then falls pregnant, precipitating what follows.] He goes to meet her one day, suggesting they take a walk down by the sea, where he pulls out a knife, stabs her to death and then throws the body in the water.
On returning home he goes to bed, only to be haunted by visions of Hell. The crime is later discovered, and the butcher boy is hung on the gallows.
The Butcher Boy- sung by Jeannie Robertson recorded by Hamish Henderson in 1953. Jeannie Robertson learned this from a woman friend around 25 years previously.
1. My parents gave me good learning,
Good learning they gave unto me,
They sent to me to a butcher's shop,
For a butcher boy to be.
2. It was there I met with a fair young maid,
With a dark and a rolling eyes,
And I promised for to marry her,
On the month of sweet July.
3. I went up to her mother's house,
Between the hour of eight and nine,
And I asked her for to walk with me,
Down by the foamin' brine.
4. Down by the foamin' brine we'll go,
Down by the foaming brine,
For that won't be a pleasant walk,
Down by the foamin' brine.
5. But they walk-ed east and they walk-ed west
And they walk-ed it all alone,
Then he pulled a knife from out his breast
And he stabbed her to the ground.
6. She fell upon her bended knee,
Help and mercy she did cry,
Roarin', "Billie dear, don't murder me
For I'm not prepared die."
7. But he took her by the lily-white hand,
And he dragged her to the brim,
And with a mighty downward push,
He pushed her body in.
8. But he went home to his own mother's house,
Between the hour of twelve and one,
But little did his mother think
What her only son had done.
9. He asked her for a handkerchief[1],
To tie 'round his head.
And he asked her for a candle light
For to show him up to bed.
10. But no sleep, no rest could this young man get
No rest he could not find
For he thought he saw the flames of hell
Approachin' his bedside.
11. But the murder it was soon found out,
And the gallis was his doom,
For the murder of sweet Mary Ann
[That] lies where the roses bloom.
1. . sung "handkiechief"