"Bury Me Beneath the Willow" is a strange song. People seem so happy when they sing it, even though the lyrics are about betrayal, suicide, death, burial and guilt. But it is definitely a joyous song!
To understand why, the historical background might be helpful. This song is believed to have been the first country music song ever recorded. The Carter Family were the first superstars of country music and needless to say they had a huge and passionate fan base.
This song, then, became a standard of American folk music, and so when it is played, everyone knows the lyrics and they know how to play it. Hence at a jam, say with some intermediate skills, when this song is played everyone can join in so it's louder and more skillfully played. We get reminded of the Carter Family, and what they meant to our grandparents and parents, so it's a very sentimental experience. Plus it's catchy, and has a positive sound and beat to it.
So it's not the case that the words don't matter, but the serious dark tone of the song is overcome by the positive memories associated with the song, and thus the bond that most of us feel to the song as well as with other musicians, our families and musical heritage. Another song like that is "Will the Circle Be Unbroken." Everybody knows it and loves it, even though the subject matter has to do with transporting a dead body.
The Lonesome Meadow nails "Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow"
OK so back to betrayal, suicide, death and burial, now that we have explained why these experiences make us happy. Mother Mabel Carter attributed this song to Riley Kincaid, though probably she meant that the Carter Family learned it by hearing Riley's version. It's possible that Riley actually composed the entire song, but the existence of varying words suggests that many musicians may have had a hand in it.
The Carter version (full text below) seems to be an amalgamation of at least two or three variants. The presumption is that song lyrics make more sense when the song is written, and deviates as it is passed from one musician to the next. That may not be true, but in any case the premise of the song varies from one verse to another.
The first verse lyrics are about a woman who has lost her true love due to death. But she looks forward to a future meeting in heaven where they will be reunited.
However, the chorus suggests that both the singer and the singer's lover are alive, but the singer is planning to die soon. Burial wishes are given. The suggestion is that death will make the lover feel sorry for her "perhaps he will weep for me." The "perhaps" suggests that there is some doubt about the lover's attitude, so the singer may have been jilted by the lover. This theme is strongly confirmed in verses 2 and 3,Verse two seems to be a scathing denunciation of the young man's deceiving character, and verse 3 would suggest that the young man is not even worth getting upset over. Good riddance! But in the last verse, she seems to still be in love and hopes her death will cause the young man to feel differently.
Well, young love is not always sensible, but it is also possible that one variant of the song dealt with the death of a lover, and then another version dealt with the rejection of a deceitful lover. It's a little unclear who rejected who. These different themes are welded together in the song.
However, the chorus suggests that both the singer and the singer's lover are alive, but the singer is planning to die soon. Burial wishes are given. The suggestion is that death will make the lover feel sorry for her "perhaps he will weep for me." The "perhaps" suggests that there is some doubt about the lover's attitude, so the singer may have been jilted by the lover. This theme is strongly confirmed in verses 2 and 3,Verse two seems to be a scathing denunciation of the young man's deceiving character, and verse 3 would suggest that the young man is not even worth getting upset over. Good riddance! But in the last verse, she seems to still be in love and hopes her death will cause the young man to feel differently.
Well, young love is not always sensible, but it is also possible that one variant of the song dealt with the death of a lover, and then another version dealt with the rejection of a deceitful lover. It's a little unclear who rejected who. These different themes are welded together in the song.
That gets us back to the original conclusion. The lyrics may not make sense, and the rhymes might be a little strained, but the song is precious to American folk musicians, and we love to sing it together.
My heart is sad, and I'm in sorrow
For the only one I love
When shall I see him, oh, no, never
Till I meet him in heaven above
Oh, bury me under the weeping willow
Yes, under the weeping willow tree
So he may know where I am sleeping
And perhaps he will weep for me
They told me that he did not love me
I could not believe it was true
Until an angel softly whispered
"He has proven untrue to you"
Tomorrow was our wedding day
But, Oh Lord, where is he?
He's gone to seek him another bride
And he cares no more for me
Oh, bury me under the violets blue
To prove my love to him
Tell him that I would die to save him
For his love I never could win
