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198 Indiana University Publications, Folklore Series
34 THE BUTCHER'S BOY
Nine variants have been found in Indiana, most of them badly corrupted.
For other American texts, see Barry, No. 41; Belden, No. 21; Campbell and Sharp, II, 76; Cox, p. 430; Hudson, Folksongs, p. 160; Journal, XXIX, 169; XXXI, 73; XXXV, 157; XLIV, 76; XLV, 72; Mackenzie, p. 9; Mackenzie, Ballads, p. 157; Pound, p. 60; Scarborough, Song Catcher, p. 282; Shearin and Combs, p. 24; Fauset, Folk-Lore frorn Nova Scotia, p. 110; Creighton, Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia, p. 33; Neely, Tales and Songs of Southern Illinois, pp. 146-49; Henry, Folk-Songs from the Southern Highlands, p. 195.
British: JFSS, I, 252; V, 181.
For the composition of "The Butcher's Boy," see Cox, headnote, p, 430.
A
"The Butcher Boy," Contributed by Mrs. Ira V. Rothrock, of Mount Vernon, Indiana. Posey County. May 20, 1935.
1. In Jersey City where I did dwell
A butcher boy I loved so well; He courted me my life away; In Jersey City I cannot stay.
2. There is an inn in yonder town;
There my love goes and sits him down. He takes a strange girl on his knee,
And tells to her what he won't tell me.
3* 'T is grief for me, Til tell you why;
Because she has more gold than I. But her gold will melt and silver fly, And such true love will always die.
4. She went upstairs to make her bed, And nothing to her mother said; "O Mother, O Mother, you do not know
What pain and grief and sorrow and woe!" |
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