1  BUTCHER BOY



In Jersey town I used to dwell

A butcher boy I loved so well 

He courted me my life away 

And then with me he would not stay.



There was a house in that same town 

He often went and sata around 

He took a strange girl on his knee

And told her things that he wouldn’t tell me.



Say do you know the reason why

Because she has more gold than I 

Her beauty will fade her gold will fly

And then she’ll be as poor as I.



She went upstairs to fix her bed

And nothing to her mother said

And when her father he came home

And says where’s darling daughter gone. 



He searched the house all through and round

And nothing of his daughter found

He went upstairs and broke the door

And found her hanging by the rope.



He drew his knife and cut her down

And on her breast these words were found

O wasn’t I a foolish girl

To hang myself for a butcher boy.



So dig my grave both wide and deep.

And lay my body down to sleep 

And on my breast some lonesome dust

To show this world I died for love. 







October 1, 1937, This ballad was given to me by Miss Ruth Spoon,



a student at Appalachian State Teachers College.  Her mother, Mrs. 



Fred Spoon, sang this song to her, Mrs. Spoon learned the song from



her mother,Mrs. Minnie Curtis.