The Butcher Boy Lyrics

In London town where I did dwell
A butcher boy I loved right well
He courted me my life away
And now with me he will not stay
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain
I wish I was a maid again
A maid again I ne'er will be
'Til cherries grow on an apple tree
I wish my baby it was born and smiling on it's daddy's knee
And me, poor girl, to be dead and gone

With the green, green grass growing over me
She went upstairs to make her bed
And calling to her mother said
Give me a chair 'til I sit down
And a pen and ink 'til I write down
At every word she dropped a tear
At every line cried "Willie dear!
Oh what I foolish girl am I
To be led astray by a butcher boy"
He went upstairs and the door he broke
And he found her hanging from a rope
He took his knife and he cut her down
And in her pocket these words he found
Go dig my grave, dig it wide and deep
Put a marble stone at my head and feet
And in the middle a turtle dove
To tell the world I died for love.