Page type: lyric reference
Artist: Sinead O'Connor
Canonical path: /sinead-oconnor/the-butcher-boy
Related lyric paths: 6
Lyric guide
The Butcher Boy
Read The Butcher Boy lyrics by Sinead O'Connor on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.
person
Curated by Ethan Walker
LyroVerse team
Reference snapshot
The page facts to cite before the commentary
Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.
Lyrics
The Butcher Boy
The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.
in Dublin town
where I did dwell
a butcher boy
I loved so well
he courted me
my life away
and now with me
he will not stay
I wish I wish
but I wish in vain
I wish I was
a maid again
but a maid again
I ne'er can be
till apples grow
on an ivy tree
she went upstairs
to go to bed
and calling to
her mother said
bring me a chair
till I sit down
and a pen and ink
till I write down
I wish I wish
but I wish in vain
I wish I was
a maid again
but a maid again
I ne'er can be
till apples grow
on an ivy tree
he went upstairs
and the door he broke
and found her hanging
from her rope
he took his knife
and cut her down
and in her pocket
these words he found:
"oh, make my grave
large, wide and deep
put a marble stone
at my head and feet
and in the middle
a turtle dove
so the world may know
i died of love".
Quick answers
What this page can answer fast
Who performs "The Butcher Boy"?
Sinead O'Connor performs "The Butcher Boy", and this lyric page sits inside the Sinead O'Connor catalog on LyroVerse.
Are there related songs to explore after "The Butcher Boy"?
Yes. The related section below points to I Want To Be Loved By You and Troy with a short reason for opening each page next.
Where can I find more songs by Sinead O'Connor?
Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Sinead O'Connor's lyric pages.
Song Room
Open Song Room
Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song
Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.
Listener comments
What people are saying
No listener comments on The Butcher Boy yet.
A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.
Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.