VERSE 1
In London city, where I did dwell
A butcher boy, I loved so well
He courted me, my life away
An' in with me, he wouldn't stay
VERSE 2
There come a strange girl in this town
He goes there and sets hisself down
An' takes a strange girl on his knee
An' he tells to her what he would'nt tell me
VERSE 3
O, th reason, th reason, th reason why
She's got more gold and silver than I
But her gold 'll melt and silver 'll fly
She sees th day, she's much poorer than I
VERSE 4
She goes upstairs to make up her bed
Not a word, not a word, to her Mother she said
She calls fer a chair to set herself down
And a pen and ink to write it down
VERSE 5
Her Father coming home that night
He always calls for his hearts delight
He went upstairs and th door he broke
And found her hanging by a rope
VERSE 6
He took his knife an' cut her down
And in her bossom, these lines he found
Saying, what a foolish maid am I
To hang myself for th butcher boy
VARIANTS:
0145 The Butcher Boy
0245 The Butcher Boy
0397 The Butchers Boy
0797 The Butcher Boy
0834 The Butcher Boy
1326 I Died For Love
1473 The Butcher Boy
OTHER COLLECTIONS:
Randolph: I-45 The Butcher Boy
Belden: p. 201 The Butcher Boy
Brown: II-81 The Butcher Boy
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