She went upstairs 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 mother, oh mother, I cannot tell
That butcher's boy I love so well
He courted me my life away
And now at home he will not stay"

"There is a place in London town
Where that butcher's boy goes and sits down
He takes that strange girl on his knee
He tells her things he don't tell me"

Her father he comes home from work
Saying, "Where is my daughter, she looks so hurt"
He went upstairs to give her hope
Found her hanging from a rope

He took his knife and he cut her down
In her bosom these words were found
"Go dig my grave both wide and deep
Place a marble slab at my head and my feet

And on my stone, place a snow white dove
To warn this world I died for love"

Oh mother, oh mother
Mother me

Oh Lord, oh Lord
Lord in me