The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #80856 Message #1528383
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
25-Jul-05 - 11:41 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Bury Me Beneath the Willow
Subject: Lyr Add: BENEATH THE WILLOW TREE (Wilburn Brothers
So many. The Trad. Ballad Index is not much help since it concentrates primarily on versions of only one of the willow songs.
The verse by Jacki resembles in part a version sung by the Wilburn Brothers, but not the same. With the line including 'the only boy I love,' I suspect that it is a country song as well.
Beneath the Willow Tree
(Wilburn Bros.)
My heart is sad and I am lonely
I'm lonesome for the one I love
When shall I see her, maybe never,
Until we meet in a heaven above.
Oh bury me beneath the willow
'Neath the weeping willow tree,
So she may know where I am sleeping
And perhaps she'll weep for me.
Tomorrow was to be our wedding
But oh, Lord, where can she be.
She's gone, I know, to wed another,
She no longer cares for me.
Oh bury me beneath the willow,
'Neath the weeping willow tree,
So she may know where I am sleeping
And perhaps she'll weep for me.
(Not sure if this is correct, so I won't give it a 'lyric add.' Recorded 1950s?
The Batchelors sang a version of one of the willow tree songs in 1964, "Beneath the Willow Tree." I doubt if anyone remembers them.
I think the best 'willow" song is "Aura Lee." 'As the blackbird in the spring, 'neath the willow tree,' etc. No dead people here. Elvis turned it into that horrible parody "Love Me Tender."