Died of Love- Isla Cameron (Perth) 1951 Lomax
[Recording first issued on World Library of Folk & Primitive Music: Volume III - England; Alan Lomax, Columbia KL 206; 1955. Reissued on The Alan Lomax Collection on Rounder Records ROUNDER CD 1741 (CD, USA, 1998).
Isla Cameron (1927-1980) of Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland sang Died of love but it is a version of Brisk Young Lover, Roud 60, and could be titled, Brisk Young Farmer. Isla grew up in England and her source for this ballad is unknown.
R. Matteson 2017]
Died of Love- sung by Isla Cameron on February 2, 1951 in London, England; recorded by Alan Lomax.
A bold young farmer courted me
He gained my heart and my liberty.
He's gained my heart with a free good will
And I must confess that I love him still.
I wish, I wish, but it's all in vain,
I wish I was a maid again.
But a maid again, that never can be
Since that young farmer lay still with me.
I wish my baby little was born
And smiling on his father's knee;
And I was dead and in my grave
And the green grass growing all over me.
Dig me my grave long wide and deep,
Put a marble stone at my head and feet.
But a turtle white dove put over above
For to let the world know that I died for love.