Go Dig my Grave- Watson/Ritchie (KY-NC) 1963 REC
[From Jean Ritchie And Doc Watson At Folk City, 1963 recording. Evidently a remake of Kazee's version but with new material added with a new chorus.
R. Matteson 2017]
Go Dig My Grave- as sung by Jean Ritchie with banjo by Doc Watson (1963).
Banjo
Well I'll be gone this lonesome day
I return again here's what I say
Go dig my grave both wide and deep,
Place a marble stone at my head and feet.
CHORUS: Oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lordy me,
Oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lordy me.
She went upstairs to make her bed,
And not one word to her mama said,
Her mama she, went upstairs too,
Said, "Daughter oh daughter, what troubles you?"
"Oh Mama dear, I cannot tell
That railroad boy I love so well;
He's courted me, my life away
And now with me he will not stay."
CHORUS
Her papa he, come home from work
Says, Where's my daughter she seems so hurt,
He went upstairs, just to give her hope,
and he found her hanging from a rope
CHORUS
Well he took his knife and he cut her down,
And in her bosom these words he found:
"Go dig my grave both wide and deep,
Place a marble stone at my head and feet.
And on my breast place a snow white dove
To tell this world I died for love."
CHORUS