Butcher's Boy- Lois Whitbee (NC) c1930 Lunsford A
[No date or location given, estimated from other MSS in collection. From: Bascom Lamar Lunsford Collection, Box 69, Folder B; Southern Appalachian Archives, Liston B. Ramsey Center for Regional Studies, Mars Hill University; Identifier mh00021.
R. Matteson 2017]
The Butcher's Boy- Contributed by Lois Whitbee
1. In London City where I did dwell
The butcher's boy I loved so well.
He courted me my life away
and then with me he would not stay.
2. There a train how sad it sounds
when he goes up and sets right down,
He takes another girl on his knee
he tells her things he won't tell me.
3. I have to grieve I'll tell you why
because she has more gold than I.
Her gold will melt; her silver will fly.
and times will be as poor as I.
4. I went up stairs to go to bed
And nothing to my mother said
Oh! mother she did seem to say
What is the trouble my daughter dear.
5. Oh! mother you need not know
the sorrow, pain, nor grief that flows.
Oh! give me a chair and set me down
with pen and ink to write words down.
6. Go dig my grave both wide and deep
place marble stones at my head and feet.
Upon my breast place a snow dove
to prove to the world I died for love.
7. When father first came home at night
where is my daughter? Where has she gone?
He went up stairs and the story broke
he found her hanging to a rope.
8. He took his knife he cut her down
and in her bosom these words he found.
A silly girl I am you know
to hang myself for the butcher's boy.
9. Must I go bound while he goes free?
Must I love a boy that don't love me?
Alas! Alas! that never will be
Better [that] oranges grow on apple trees.