A MAIDEN’S PRAYER
(Traditional)

A farmer coming home one night
In his house he saw no light
He lit his lamp and went upstairs
And to his daughter’s room repaired

And as he entered in her room
He found her hanging in the gloom
He took his knife and cut her down
And on her breast these words he found

Oh when my apron strings hung low
He chased me through the ice and snow
But now my apron strings don’t meet
He passes me by in the street

Oh God I wish my child was born
And I not left and all forlorn
Oh father I can’t take the shame
To bear this child without a name

So dig my grave and dig it deep
And plant white lilies at my feet
Oh plant white lilies up above
To signify I died of love

They dug her grave, they dug it deep
And planted lilies at her feet
And planted lilies up above
To signify she died for love

Now all you maidens bear in mind
A sailor’s love is hard to find
And if you find one good and true
Don’t forsake the old love for the new

The above is a composite of several versions collected in Australia as recorded by Alan Musgrove on his 'Bagman's Gazette' CD. It is one of the 'Died for love' family of songs. Musgrove noted that Joy Hildebrand (who used to post on Mudcat as Joybell) in her 'Died for Love' monograph traced the song to a broadside titled 'Love In Despair', published in Edinburgh in the late 17th century. In the US, it is known as 'The Railroad Boy'.

In Australia, it is known as 'A Sailor's Prayer' or 'A Maiden's Prayer' even though there is no prayer in any version. There is a version of each of those titles in Ron Edwards' big book and a version of 'A Maiden's Prayer' in Meredith & Anderson's 'Folk Songs of Australia'. Musgrove's version seems to be mainly a composite of these.

The 1928 recording by Buell Kazee was included in the famous Harry Smith anthology of American folk music and it influenced folk revival versions. He recorded it as 'The Butcher's Boy' even though he knew it as 'The Railroad Boy'.

The Butcher's Boy

Here is an interesting composite version from the singing of Mike Waterson. It is performed by
Martin and Eliza Carthy.

Died for Love

--Stewie.