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This traditional song recounts the story of a bereaved lover sitting and weeping at the grave of his beloved for a year and a day, after which time her ghost arises and advises him to mourn no longer and to seek happiness until he is called away to death himself. Detailed information on this deeply sad song can be found in Volume II of The Traditional Tunes Of The Child Ballads With Their Texts, according to the Extant Records of Great Britain and America, by Bertrand Harris Bronson, which was published by Princeton University Press in 1962.

This volume states that this song dates from the 1800’s but there is other evidence that this song existed in some form as far back as the 1400’s.

lyrics

The wind doth blow today, my love

And a few small drops of rain

I never had but one true love

In cold grave she was lain



I'll do as much for my true love

As any young man ever may

I'll sit and mourn all at her grave

For a twelvemonth and a day



The twelvemonth and a day being up

The dead began to speak

Oh who sits weeping on my grave

And will not let me sleep



Tis I, my love, sits on your grave

And will not let you sleep

For I crave one kiss of your clay-cold lips

And that is all I seek



You crave one kiss of my clay-cold lips

But my breath smells earthy strong

If you have one kiss of my clay-cold lips

Your time will not be long



Tis down in yonder garden green

Love, where we used to walk

The finest flower that ere was seen

Is withered to a stalk



The stalk is withered dry, my love

So will our hearts decay

So make yourself content, my love

Till God calls you away

credits

from Am I Born to Die?, released October 20, 2015

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The Ghosts of Johnson City Portland, Maine

Based in Maine with musical roots in Appalachia and the Deep South, The Ghosts of Johnson City present simple and soulful versions of old mountain music, Civil War songs, coal-mining melodies, disaster chronicles, haunting murder ballads and tunes of love and loss in times of poverty. ... more

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