Hi,

Kennedy calls this an army song generally known as "Died for Love" which is a version of "In Jersey City" a song he says in turn is probably based on "Sheffield Park." He doesn't call "In Jersey City" the normal name "Butcher Boy." Kennedy adds that there are stanzas from "Tavern in the Town." Please excuse my notoriously bad typing.

"Died for Love." No informant named. Peter Kennedy, Folksongs of Britain and Ireland p. 381. (London: Cassell, New York: Schirmer, 1975). Text supplied S. Gardham. Roud 18828

1. A soldier young and fair was she,
Who courted in society,
This soldier was so bold and gay,
He led a little girl astray.

2. O when her apron-strings were low,
He courted her in rain and snow;
But when those string refused to meet,
He passed her by upon the street.

3. Her father came back late one night,
And found the house without a light;
He went upstairs to go to bed,
When a sudden thought entered his head.

4. He rushed into his daughter's room,
And found her hanging from a beam;
He took a knife and cut her down,
And on her breast these words he found.

5. I wish my baby had been born,
Before my troubles had begun,
So dig my grave and dig it deep,
And put white lilies at my feet.

6. They dug her grave and dig it deep,
They put white lilies at her feet.
And on her breast they laid a dove,
To signify she died of love.

7. Now all you soldiers bear in mind,
A true girl's love is hard to find,
But if you find one that is true,
Don't change an old love for the new.

Sheffield Park was originally independent and in 1820 stanzas of "Constant Lady" AKA "Near Woodstock" were added to the Pitts broadside. The same stanzas have been found added to versions of "Died for Love" but they may have come from Pitts' "Sheffield park" or from the 1686 "Constant Lady" broadside. Either way the stanzas don't appear this army version I call, "Maiden's Prayer' (not the Bob Wills song- same title).

Richie