Died of Love- Derek Hobbs (NE Eng) 2012 Bladey
[From Conrad Bladey's Beuk O' Newcassel Sangs; The Tradition of Northumbria. Also Singing Hinnies Vol. 2: traditional arranged Derek Hobbs, Rossleigh Music. Another twenty four favourite songs from the north east of England.
This was posted on Mudcat as traditional and seems to be of recent origin but no source is given. Most likely this is an arrangement by Derek Hobbs. Where he got stanzas three and four is unknown but they don't sound traditional.
R. Matteson 2017]
Died of Love- Traditional in North-East England- no source given.
There is an ale house in yon town
Where my love goes and sits him down,
And he takes a young lass on his knee
And that's a grief, a grief to me
A grief, a grief, I will not tell you why:
Because she has more gold than I.
But her gold will go and her beauty pass,
She'll become a poor girl like me at last.
Now all you fair maids take my advice
And never trust a soldier twice
For he'll pass my door and he won't come in
Now that my apron's to my chin.
The father of this bairn's a dirty rat,
He knows He's left a love begat,
And if I die it'll be a shame
For he'll never know his father's name.
Oh, dig my grave, dig it wide and deep,
Place marble stones at my head and feet,
And on my breast put a turtle dove
So the world 'll know I died of love.