Butcher's Boy- Frank Luther (NY) 1928 REC
[Recorded GG 4133, mid 1928, NYC.
R. Matteson 2017]
Butcher's Boy- sung by Frank Luther. Recorded in 1928.
In London city where I did dwell,
A butcher's boy I loved so well,
He courted me my life away,
And with me then he would not stay.
There is a Spring House in this town
Where he goes up and sits right down
He takes another girl on his knee
He tells her things that he won't tell me.
I have to grieve I'll tell why,
Because she has more gold than I
Her gold will melt and silver fly,
In time of need she'll be as poor as I.
I went upstairs to go to bed
And nothing to my mother said,
But mother said, "You're acting queer,
What is the trouble, my daughter dear?"
"Oh mother dear, you need not know
The pain and sorrow, grief and woe.
Give me a chair and set me down,
With pen and ink to write words down."
"Go dig my grave both wide and deep,
Place a marble stone at my head and feet.
Upon my breast a snow white dove
To show the world that I died for love."
And when her father first came home
"Where is my daughter? Where has she gone?"
He went upstairs and the door he broke
And found her hanging into a rope.
He took his knife and cut her down,
And in her bosom these words he found:
A silly girl am I you know,
To hang myself for the butcher's boy.
Must I be bound while he goes free
Must I love a boy that don't love me?
Alas, alas it'll never be,
Till oranges grow on apple trees.