She returns to her father, who gives her the news that her young lover has in fact died of grief, whereupon she goes to his grave and digs up the bones, finding that her handkerchief is tied round the skull.
[2][3] The Lover's Ghost It's of a farmer in our town, His election goes the country round; He had a daughter, a beauty bright, In every place was her heart's delight.
This maid arose and got up behind, And he drove as swift as the very wind, And not a word did this young man speak, But - "My dearest dear, how my head does ache!"
Early next morning this maid arose, And straightaway to the churchyard goes, She rose the corpse that was nine day's dead, And found her handkerchief bound round his head.
[1] The Roud Folk Song Index lists about 39 instances collected from traditional singers – 23 from the United States, 9 from Ireland, 4 from Canada and 3 from England.
Other versions have been recorded by John Goodluck, Ken Hall and Peta Webb, Norma Waterson, Kerfuffle, Benji Kirkpatrick, and Rosie Hood.