Butcher Boy- Pearl Nye (OH) 1937 J. Lomax
[Library of Congress from Captain Pearl R. Nye collection AFS 1609 A03 at American Folklife Center. cf Kelly Harrell
R. Matteson 2017]
The Butcher Boy- sung by Captain Pearl Nye on 11-03-1937; collected by John Lomax.
In London city where I did dwell,
A butcher's boy I loved so well.
He stole from me my heart away,
And with me now, he will not stay.
There was a strange girl in that town,
My lover he sets her down.
And takes that strange girl on his knee,
And tells to her what he won't tell me.
It's grief to me, I'll tell you why,
Because she has more gold than I.
But gold will melt and silver fly,
True love, will never, never die.
Last night my lover promised me,
He'd meet me 'cross the deep blue sea.
But now he's gone, left me alone,
An orphan girl, to weep and mourn.
Go dig my grave both wide and deep,
Place a marble slab at my head and feet.
O'er my eyebrow place a snow white dove,
For to prove to the world I died for love.