Cat. #0203 (MFH #37) - As sung by Lucy Quigley, Eureka Springs, Arkansas on September 2, 1958
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