Butcher's Boy- Liza Stewart (KY) 1937 Lomax REC
[From Kentucky Alan Lomax Recordings, 1937-1942,
R. Matteson 2017]
Butcher's Boy- sung by Liza Stewart of Hazard, Perry County, KY on October 18, 1937
In London City where I did dwell
A merchman's boy[1] who loved me well
He courted me my heart away
And with me now he would not stay.
There is a girl in that same town,
My love goes and he sits down
He takes some strange girl on his knee
And he told to her what he won't tell me.
The reason why I could not tell,
Unless she's got more gold than I,
Her gold will melt, and her silver will fly,
In a few more years, just as poor as I.
It was late in the eve[ning] when her father came home,
Inquiring where his daughter were gone,
He went upstairs and the door he broke,
He found her hanging on thy rope.
He took his knife and he cut her down,
And on her breast a letter was found,
Go dig my grave both wide and deep,
Go dig my grave with a silver spade[2].
Place me down with a gold watch chain,
Place a marble stone at my head and feet,
And on my breast a snow-white dove,
To prove to the world that I've died for love.
And on my grave plant a willow tree,
For that he can mourn for the love of me.
1. merchant's boy?
2. See also Crow Jane for this and the next line.