Butcher Boy
View chords used in this chart
G7 C
In London city where I did well
G7 C
A butcher boy, I loved right well
Am Dm
He courted me, my life away
G7 C
But now with me, he will not stay
Chorus
G7 C
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain
G7 C
I wish I was a maid again
Am Dm
A maid again I ne'er will be
G7 C
'Till cherries grow on an ivy tree
G7 C
I wish my baby it was born
G7 C
And smiling on its daddy's knee
Am Dm
And me poor girl to be dead and gone
G7 C
With the long green grass growing over me
G7 C
She went upstairs to go to bed
G7 C
And calling to her mother said
Am Dm
"Give me a chair 'till I sit down
G7 C
And a pen and ink 'till I write down"
G7 C
At every word she dropped a tear
G7 C
And at every line cried "Willie dear -
Am Dm
Oh, what a foolish girl was I
G7 C
To be led astray by a butcher boy"
G7 C
He went upstairs and the door he broke
G7 C
He found her hanging from a rope
Am Dm
He took his knife and he cut her down
G7 C
And in her pocket, these words he found
G7 C
Oh, make my grave large, wide and deep
G7 C
Put a marble stone at my head and feet
Am Dm
And in the middle, a turtle dove
G7 C
That the world may know, that I died for love.
How to play Butcher Boy
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is G7. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.