Does anyone know the origin of this poem or one like it?

The only online

reference I could find was to Kim Morrissey, who apparently has a Smokers' Poem, but I think it's not the one you're

looking for.

Sorry.

I dunno, but there

are a few members from the Realm who will join, and they know poetry much better than I.

Thanx
Thanx anyhow. I

think It's written by a Richard ...somebody or somebody.. Richard, but have not had any luck finding for it. The first part

of the poem is a direct quote, but the last part I had to improvise, So it's not that easy to find. If you have any other

hints on finding out, please let me know.

Thanx

laters...
Pharon

I'm still looking,

Pharon, but no luck so far.

Thanx Rae



From what I know, it was written not to long ago, about 60's 70's but that all i know and even with the power of the

internet, No go

Well, "So Be It" :wink:

older than time
the

butcher boy
(lyrics Public Domain)

she went upstairs to make her bed and not a word to her
mother said her

mother went upstairs too saying oh
daughter my daughter what troubles you

oh mother oh mother i can not tell that

butcher that
butcher that boy I love so well he courted he courted my
life away and now at home at home he will not

stay

ther is a place a place in london town wher that
butcher that boy he goes and sits down He takes

that
strange that strange girl on his knee and tells her and
tells her what he won't tell me

her father her

father came home from work saying my
daughter my daughter she looks so hurt he went upstairs
upstairs to give her hope

and found her and found her
hanging from a rope

he took a knife a knife and cut her down and in her
bosom her

bosom a note he found go dig a grave
both wide and deep and place a marble slab at my head
and feet

and over my

coffin my coffin place a snow white dove to
warn the world the world that I died for love

variations of this

lyric abound
You know the old "Ballad of the Butcher Boy"?
He [WOODY GUTHRIE] used that tune for five or ten songs. One

of his best children's songs is "Cleano."

He put another famous verse to this tune in 1942, when the CIO Ladies

Auxiliaries asked him to write a theme song for them. "What's wrong with 'Union Maid'?" he asked. "We wrote that for you."

They said it was a good song, but it wasn't dignified enough, and besides, it didn't have the words "Ladies Auxiliary" in

the chorus. So Woody, off the top of his head sang: "Oh, the Ladies Auxiliary...."


fascinating where this

lyric has been

searching
http://home.bluemarble.net/~dlharden/NTBBBCD.htm

trying to find you a

link with a longer sample - but in the meantime, give this a try

ehBeth, the Union Maid rises up out of my

past. My sister and I had a singing duo, these many years ago, and one of the guys in our backup group sang "There once was

a union maid/she never was afraid/of goons and finks and ??? /and deputy sheriffs who made the raids, etc."

The there

was "Talkin' Union."

You are right in that many words, political and otherwise, were put to old tunes. I listen to

the old Woody Guthrie stuff, and he has thousands of words but we all know the tunes after the first few

notes.

Kara

ehbeth.

well

this id the closest any and all have come to finding the source and call me ignorant but i have necer heard of [WOODY

GUTHRIE].

and I thought I was educated....Duh.

I must thank you for the link I have checked to see for some

kind of documented source but to no avail, well i can find out who [WOODY GUTHRIE] now,
thanx

wow!
pharon - woody

guthrie is only one of the musicians who took the original traditional song and modified it, just as the version you are

familiar with was further modified.

do let us know if we can help you find more information on Woody Guthrie or the

tradition of music of the British Isles as it travelled across the world. Ethnomusicology is truly a fascinating way of

studying people and their travels and developments.

Enjoy your poems and songs!

Shot ehbeth
I am however still seaching for the author who made this version but you have been most helpfull.

:wink:

Pharon

I just came across this topic.
In case you are still interested in learning more about Woody Guthrie here is a biographical link:

http://www.woodyguthrie.org/biography.htm

Forever
Never take your loved ones for granted,

They could be gone tomorrow

All of my dreams seem to fall be the side

Like a discarded thought or the day's fading light

I know that if i could see you tonight

Forever at the times we may fall

Your kindness for weakness i never mistook

I worried you often, yet understood

Forever I'll find you, Forever we'll be

Forever your strength will remain with me

It is really nice poem ......
Many thanks
but i don't know anything about this poem......

POEM DIG MY GRAVE
SLIGHT VARIATION TO WORDS
SUBSTITUTE SAILOR
THEN IT BECOMES A SEA SHANTY WAY BACK IN MY DAY
1940 YEARS

I also want to know this

The version I know
My dad used to sing me a version of this as a lullaby when I was a baby - I still sing it for my kids. My dad learnt this version when he was a boy.

A workman came from work one night
To find his house without a light
He went upstairs to go to bed
When a sudden thought came to his head

He went into his daughter's room
to find her hanging from a beam
he took his knife and cut her down
And on her breast these words he found

Oh lord I wish my babe were born
And all my troubles they were gone
So dig my grave and dig it deep
and lay white lilies at my feet

So all you maiden's bear in mind
A soldiers love is hard to find
So if you find one good and true
Don't change the old love for the new.

My dad say's its about a girl married to a soldier, who gets pregnant whilst her husband is off at war and kills herself so he never knows of her infidelity.

Hope this helps

SONG TITLE
HAVE YOU HAD ANY JOY YET