Down by the Weeping Willow Tree

DESCRIPTION: "Dig my grave and let me lie, love (x3), Down by the weeping willow tree." "Make it long and deep and wide, love." "Dig my grave with a golden spade, love." "Let me down with a golden chain, love." "Cover me over with the sod, love."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1952 (Brown)
KEYWORDS: burial death
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Brown/Belden/Hudson-FrankCBrownCollectionNCFolklore3 268, "Down by the Weeping Willow Tree" (1 text)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Dig My Grave with a Silver Spade" (lyrics)
NOTES [47 words]: The lyrics of this are largely identical with "Dig My Grave with a Silver Spade," and I thought seriously about lumping them. But I hesitantly separate them (pending discovery of additional versions) on the basis of the refrains and the much more spiritual feel of "Silver Spade." - RBW
File: Br3268

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