# data[].attributes.body
I wish, I wish my babe was born
An smiling on some nurse's knee.
An for myself to be dead and gone
An the long green grass growing over me.

# data[].attributes.body
Oh I wish, I wish, oh I wish in vain,
I wish I was a maid again.
But a maid again I will never be
'Til a apple it grows on a orange tree.

# data[].attributes.body
There is a blackbird in yonder tree,
Some say it's blind and it cannot see.
I wish it had of been so by me
Before I'd kept my love's company.

# data[].attributes.body
There is a blackbird sits on yon tree,
Some says it is blind and it cannae see.
Some says it is blind and it cannae see
And that's what my true love's tae me.

# data[].attributes.body
It's up and doon yon white hoose brae,
He's called a strange girlie to his knee
An he's telt her a tale that he's once told me.

# data[].attributes.body
When my apron it hung low
My true love followed through frost and snow.
But now my apron is tae ma chin;
He passes me by and he'll ne'er speir in.

# data[].attributes.body
What a voice, what a voice, what a voice I hear,
It's like the voice of my Willie dear.
An if I had wings like that swallow high
I would clasp in the arms of my Billy Boy.

# data[].attributes.body
Go dig my grave
Both wide and deep
Place a marble stone
At my head and feet
And on my breast
A snow white dove
To tell this world
That I died for love

# data[].attributes.body
He got his knife
For to cut her down
And in her bosom
These words he found

# data[].attributes.body
Oh lordy Lord
Oh lordy me
Oh Lord, oh Lord
Oh lordy me

# data[].attributes.body
Oh lordy Lord
Oh lordy me
Oh Lord, oh Lord
Oh lordy me

# data[].attributes.body
Her father he
Came home from work
Saying, "Where's my daughter?
She seemed so hurt"
He went upstairs
For to give her hope
And he found her hanging
By a rope

# data[].attributes.body
He courted me
My life away
And now with me
He will not stay"

# data[].attributes.body
Oh, mama dear
I cannot tell
That railroad boy
That I loved so well

# data[].attributes.body
Her mother she
Went upstairs, too
Saying, "Daughter, oh daughter
What troubles you?"

# data[].attributes.body
She went upstairs
For to make her bed
And not one word
To her mother said

# data[].attributes.body
Oh lordy Lord
Oh lordy me
Oh Lord, oh Lord
Oh lordy me

# data[].attributes.body
Go dig my grave
Both wide and deep
Place a marble stone
At my head and feet
And on my breast
A snow white dove
To tell this world
That I died for love

# data[].attributes.body
I know my love is an errant rover
And I know he'll travel the world all over
And in dear old Ireland he'll no longer tarry
And an English damsel he's sure to marry

# data[].attributes.body
And still she cried 'I love him the best'
And a troubled mind sure can know no rest
And still she cried 'Bonny boys are few'
And if my love leaves me what will I do?

# data[].attributes.body
If my love knew that I could wash and wring
And if my love knew that I could weave and spin
I would make a suit all of the finest kind
But the want of money, it leaves me behind

# data[].attributes.body
And still she cried 'I love him the best'
And a troubled mind sure can know no rest
And still she cried 'Bonny boys are few'
And if my love leaves me what will I do?

# data[].attributes.body
There is a dance hall in Mardyke
And it's there my love goes every night
And he takes a strange girl upon his knee
And don't you know that this vexes me

# data[].attributes.body
And still she cried 'I love him the best'
And a troubled mind sure can know no rest
And still she cried 'Bonny boys are few'
And if my love leaves me what will I do?

# data[].attributes.body
I know my love by his way of walking
And I know my love by his way of talking
And I know my love dressed in a suit of blue
And if my love leaves me what will I do?

# data[].attributes.body
Go dig my grave long wide and deep,
Put marble stones at my head and feet,
Plant a red rose bush in the middle of me
For I loved that lad but he didn't love me.

# data[].attributes.body
My heart is weary with all this grief
For my true love was worse than a thief.
A thief will rob you and run away
But a false young man will lead you astray.

# data[].attributes.body
Now all young girls be advised by me:
Never let a stranger take you on his knee.
He'll court and kiss you, swear to be true,
But the very next moment he'll bid you adieu.

# data[].attributes.body
There is a blackbird in yonder tree,
Some say it's blind and it cannot see.
I wish it had of been so by me
Before I'd kept my love's company.

# data[].attributes.body
O when my apron it tied low
He followed me through frost and snow,
But now it ties underneath my chin
He passes my by and he says nothing.

# data[].attributes.body
A grief, a grief and I'll tell you why:
Because she has got more gold than I.
But her looks will fade and her beauty will pass
And then, poor girl, she'll come like me at last.

# data[].attributes.body
There is a tavern in yonder town
Where my true love goes and sets him down.
He takes another girl on his knee,
Now don't you think that's a grief for me?

# data[].attributes.body
She takes them home and makes her bed,
She puts a snow-white pillow in under her head.
She lies down and she closed her eyes,
She closed her eyes, no more for to rise.

# data[].attributes.body
So across the fields that poor girl she ran,
Gathering flowers just as they sprang.
Some she picked and some she pulled
Until she gathered her apron full.

# data[].attributes.body
Now, there is a flower, I have heard people say,
It grows by night and it fades by day.
Now, if that flower I could only find
It would cure my heart and ease my mind.

# data[].attributes.body
I wish the Lord my baby was born
And sits smiling in his own daddy's arm.
And me myself wrapped up in cold clay,
Then all my sorrows would fade away.

# data[].attributes.body
A grief, a grief, I'll tell you for why:
Because she has more gold than I.
Gold may glitter and silver will shine
And all my sorrows will fade in time.

# data[].attributes.body
Over yonder's hill there is an old house
Where my true love goes and sits himself down.
Takes another fresh girl on his knee,
Now don't you think that's a grief to me?

# data[].attributes.body
https://open.spotify.com/track/7tS0fUOD5QCCO34CvZXA5H

# data[].attributes.headline
What A Voice, What A Voice by Lizzie Higgins

# data[].attributes.subject
What A Voice, What A Voice by Lizzie Higgins

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0mulU8zojA

# data[].attributes.body
https://youtu.be/uuzDz6KXexA

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
There is a Tavern / Laura Smyth & Ted Kemp

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dIGJRw7M90

# data[].attributes.body
Oh grief oh grief I'll tell you why
that girl she has more gold than I
more gold than I, beauty and faith
But she will come like me again

# data[].attributes.body
(an amalgamation of all the floating verses I found)

A young man of varying professions, sometimes unspecified has courted a young woman, often he's got her pregnant. Before this event he followed her through extreme weather conditions but afterwards he loses interest. Now, while she's at home pregnant and sad, or sometimes just sad, wishing her baby was born and she was dead, he frequents a pub/dance hall/unspecified location with another girl. This girl is prettier and richer but soon she'll clearly lose favour just like the main character of our story. In her grief our young woman goes home, telling her mother about the rejection and sometimes asking her for a chair and something to write with, then going to bed. Her father comes home late at night, asking where she's gone. He goes upstairs to her room to 'give her hope' and breaks the door down, only to find her hanging from the rafters by a rope. He takes a knife and cuts her down and finds her suicide note, sometimes lamenting her stupidity for falling for this young man, other times instructing him to dig her a grave and place a dove on her breast to show the world that she died for love....

# data[].attributes.body
Much more traditional Irish recording:
https://www.itma.ie/digital-library/sound/there-is-an-alehouse-cash

Gloucestershire (dodgy digitised wax cylinder recording):
https://sounds.bl.uk/World-and-traditional-music/Percy-Grainger-Collection/025M-1LL0010317XX-0202V0

'A song which paints a picture of unhappy love, with the singer scorned by his/her lover. The song often involves an unwanted pregnancy and a wish on the part of the girl that she was dead. This apparently mournful theme has proved hugely popular with source singers in England and occasionally elsewhere. It has often turned up in the repertoire of gypsy singers. Broadside versions date from the 19th century, but it has ancestors dating back to the seventeenth century.'

Notes by Gwilym Davies

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
There is an alehouse, song / Andy Cash, singing in English

# data[].attributes.body
A brisk young sailor courted me,
He stole away my liberty,
He stole my heart with a free good will,
I must confess I love him still.

# data[].attributes.body
John Riley/Fair Maid in the Garden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g9OHlKPOrE
Connected to A Brisk Young Sailor

# data[].attributes.body
Ah, griev'd I am, I'll tell you why,
Because she has more gold than I,
Her gold will waste, her beauty blast,
Poor girl she'll come like me at last,

# data[].attributes.body
When first I wore my apron low/when my apron strings hung low,
He followed me through frost and snow,
But now my apron is up to my chin/to my shins,
He passes by and says nothing.

# data[].attributes.body
Joan Baez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08ulAPRU45A

Jody Miller: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATolZY9yOoo

# data[].attributes.body
There is a place in London town
That railroad boy goes and sits down
He takes a strange girl on his knee
And he tells to her what he won't tell me/what he once told me

# data[].attributes.body
Here are some of the verses I've found that connect all these versions together some way or another

# data[].attributes.body
Go Dig My Grave/The Butcher Boy/Butcher's Boy/There is an Alehouse/I Know My Love/I Wish I Wish/Railroad Boy/What A Voice/The Brisk Young Sailor/A Brisk Young Sailor Courted Me/Died For Love/Bold Young Farmer/I Wish My Baby Was Born

# data[].attributes.body
There is a dance hall in Mardyke
And it's there my love goes every night
And he takes a strange girl upon his knee
And don't you know that this vexes me

# data[].attributes.body
He went upstairs and the door he broke/for to give her hope
And found her hanging from a rope
He took his knife and cut her down
And in her pocket these words he found

# data[].attributes.body
She went upstairs to go to bed
And calling to her mother said
Bring me a chair till I sit down
And a pen and ink till I write down

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obl5FLEh_OI

[From Lyrics Playground]
As recorded by SINEAD O'CONNOR:

In Dublin Town where I did dwell
A butcher boy I loved so well
He courted me my life away
And now with me he will not stay

I wish, I wish, but I wish in vain
I wish I was a maid again
But a maid again I never can be
Till apples grow on an ivy tree

She went upstairs to go to bed
And calling to her mother said
Bring me a chair till I sit down
And a pen and ink till I write down

I wish, I wish, but I wish in vain
I wish I was a maid again
But a maid again I never can be
Till apples grow on an ivy tree

He went upstairs and the door he broke
And found her hanging from a rope
He took his knife and cut her down
And in her pocket these words he found

Oh, make my grave large, wide and deep
Put a marble stone at my head and feet
And in the middle a turtle dove
So the world may know I died of love

# data[].attributes.body
He courted me
My life away
And now with me/and now at home
He will not stay

# data[].attributes.body
Her father he
Came home from work
Saying, "Where's my daughter?
She seemed so hurt"
He went upstairs
For to give her hope
And he found her hanging
By a rope

# data[].attributes.body
First release of Butcher's Boy - popular US version of the ballad (January 7, 1925 / February 27, 1925)

https://youtu.be/bumlPHXjMHg

[From Lyrics Playground]
As recorded by KELLY HARRELL:

In London City, where I did dwell
A butcher's boy I loved so well
He courted me my lifet away
And with me then he would not stay

There is a strange house in this town
Where he goes up and sits right down
He takes a another girl on his knee
He tells her things that he won't tell me

I have to grieve, I'll tell you why
Because she has more gold than I
Her gold will melt and silver fly
In time of need, she'll be as poor as I

I went upstairs to go to bed
And nothing to my mother said
Oh, mother, she did seem to say
"What is the trouble, my daughter dear?"

"Oh, mother, dear, you need not know
The pain and sorrow, grief that flows
Get me a chair and sit me down
With pen and ink to write words down"

"Go dig my grave, both wide and deep
Place a marble stone at my head and feet
Upon my breast a snow white dove
To show the world I died for love"

And when her father first came home
"Where is my daughter, where has she gone?"
He went upstairs and the door he broke
And found her hanging to a rope

He took his knife and cut her down
And in her bosom these lines he found
"A a silly girl I am, you know
To hang myself for the butcher's boy"

# data[].attributes.body
In London/Jersey/Dublin city/town where I did dwell
A butcher's boy I loved so well
He courted me my life a way
And with me then he would not say

# data[].attributes.body
That railroad boy
That I loved so well
He courted me
My life away
And now with me
He will not stay"

# data[].attributes.body
Lots of versions:
https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/1058337/all

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Go Dig My Grave (Railroad Boy) by Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Go Dig My Grave (Railroad Boy) by Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson was written by [Traditional] and was first recorded and released by Kelly Harrell in 1925. Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson released it on the album Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson at Folk City in 1963. It was covered by Dan Crary, Dinosaurs, Scho…

# data[].attributes.headline
I Know My Love by the Chieftains + The Corrs/The Dubliners

# data[].attributes.subject
I Know My Love by the Chieftains + The Corrs/The Dubliners

# data[].attributes.body
https://genius.com/The-chieftains-i-know-my-love-lyrics
https://genius.com/The-dubliners-i-know-my-love-lyrics

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
I Know My Love Lyrics

One two three four five six
I Know My Love by his way of walking
And I Know My Love by his way of talking
And I Know My Love dressed in a suit of blue
And if my love leaves me, what will I do?
And still she cried, "I love him the best
And a troubled mind sure can know no rest"
And still she cried, "Bonny boys are few
And if my love leaves me, what will I do?"
There is a dance house in Maradyke
And there my true love goes every night
He takes a strange girl upon his knee
Well, now don't you think that, that vexes me?
And still she cried, "I love him the best
And a troubled mind sure can know no rest"
And still she cried, "Bonny boys are few
And if my love leaves me, what will I do?"
If my love knew, I can wash and wring
If my love knew, I can sew and spin
I'd make a coat of the finest kind
But the want of money sure leaves me behind
And still she cried, "I love him the best
And a troubled mind sure can know no rest"
And still she cried, "Bonny boys are few
And if my love leaves me, what will I do?"
I Know My Love is an arrant rover
I know he'll wander the wild world over
In dear old Ireland, he'll no longer tarry
An American girl, he's sure to marry
And still she cried, "I love him the best
And a troubled mind sure can know no rest"
And still she cried, "Bonny boys are few
And if my love leaves me, what will I do?"
And still she cried, "I love him the best
And a troubled mind sure can know no rest"
And still she cried, "Bonny boys are few
And if my love leaves me, what will I do?"
What will I do?

This song bio is unreviewed

This track allowed the group work with up and coming Irish groups. This song uses a pop rhythm mixing guitars and traditional instruments. It was recorded with the Irish group, The Corrs.

This track did receive chart action in the UK and Ireland.

Ask us a question about this song

Ask a question *‌

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Chieftains (Ft. The Corrs) - I Know My Love

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
One two three four five six / I Know My Love by his way of walking / And I Know My Love by his way of talking / And I Know My Love dressed in a suit of blue / And if my love leaves

# data[].attributes.headline
Go Dig my Grave (Railroad Boy) by Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson

# data[].attributes.subject
Go Dig my Grave (Railroad Boy) by Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson

# data[].attributes.body
https://youtu.be/XDiLf0LBv2c

With 'Oh lord o Lord, oh lordy me'

# data[].attributes.body
She went upstairs
For to make her bed
And not one word
To her mother said
Her mother she
Went upstairs, too
Saying, "Daughter, oh daughter
What troubles you?"
"Oh, mama dear
I cannot tell
That railroad boy
That I loved so well
He courted me
My life away
And now with me
He will not stay"

# data[].attributes.body
Go dig my grave
Both wide and deep
And place a marble stone at my head and feet
And on my breast a turtle dove/snow white dove
To tell this world/young virgins
That I died for love

# data[].attributes.body
I wish my baby it were born
And smiling on its father's/daddy's/nurse's knee
And I would lie/and me to be in yon church yard
With long green grass growing over me

# data[].attributes.body
I wish, I wish
But it's all in vain
I wish I were a maid again
But a maid again
I never shall be
'Till apples grow on an orange/ivy tree

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhqpQiXnFx0
This version is how I first went down the ballad's rabbit hole, with the help of Ian Lynch of Lankum Dublin. Their recently released 'Go Dig My Grave' uses the (slightly modified) words of one of the floating verses:

Go dig my grave
Both wide and deep
Place a marble stone
At my head and feet
And on my breast
A snow white dove
To tell this world
That I died for love

And also:
She went upstairs
For to make her bed
And not one word
To her mother said
Her mother she
Went upstairs, too
Saying, "Daughter, oh daughter
What troubles you?"
"Oh, mama dear
I cannot tell
That railroad boy
That I loved so well
He courted me
My life away
And now with me
He will not stay"

[From Genius Lyrics]
According to Hot Press: “Lankum’s Radie Peat learned this version of ‘Go Dig My Grave’ from the singing of Jean Ritchie, who recorded it in 1963 on the album Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson at Folk City.

“Our interpretation of the traditional song ‘Go Dig My Grave’ is one that centres around the emotion of grief – all-consuming, unbearable and absolute” the band explain. “A visceral physical reaction to something that the body and mind are almost incapable of processing. The second part of the song is inspired by the Irish tradition of keening (from the Irish caoineadh) – a traditional form of lament for the deceased. Regarded by some as opening up ‘perilous channels of communication with the dead’, the practice came under severe censure from the catholic church in Ireland from the 17th century on.”

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Lankum - Go Dig My Grave (Official Video)