The Green Grave- Nolan (KY) 1913 Niles C
[From The Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles; 1961. This could be traditional- or it could be an arrangement from tradition- as always it's hard to tell with Niles who admitted "arranging" ballad (Wilgus).
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
The Green Grave- sung by William and Belinda Nolan (Science Hill, Pulanski County, KY) 1913 Niles C
1. The wind across the graveyard blew,
With tiny drops of rain
"I never had but one true love
And she in the grave one year hath lain,
And she in the grave hath lain."
2. He sat and grieved upon her grave
As many lovers may,
He sat and grieved and made a moan
A twelvemonth and a day,
A twelvemonth and a day.
3. And when the grieving time was past,
The maiden's ghost did say,
"Who sits a-weeping on my grave
A twelvemonth and a day,
A twelvemonth and a day?
4. "My lips are cold as coldest clay,
My breath is earthy strong,
Now you have kissed me once again,
Your days will not be long,
Your days will not be long."