“Love Has Brought Me to Despair”
Description
The singer hears a girl telling of the grief her false love has left her. She seeks a flower in the meadow to ease her mind; none meet her needs. She makes a bed of flowers, asks for a marble stone on her grave and a turtle dove at her breast, and dies
Notes
This song has close ties with "Tavern in the Town," often sharing stanzas and, of course, a similarity of plot. Roud, in fact, lumps them (which seems a bit excessive to me). This may help explain why Laws failed to note either the Combs or the Cox version. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "The Butcher Boy" [Laws P24]
- cf. "Tavern in the Town"
Recordings
- Berzilla Wallin, "Love Has Brought Me To Despair" (on OldLove)
References
- Laws P25, "Love Has Brought Me to Despair"
- Brewster 58, "Love Has Brought Me to Despair" (2 texts, 1 tune)
- Combs/Wilgus 116, p. 176, "The Auxville Love" (1 text)
- JHCox 144, "Love Has Brought Me To Despair" (1 text)
- DT 824, LOVDISPR*
- Roud #60
- BI, LP25