"Henry Lee" is a traditional folk song with it's origin in Scotland from the 18th century. It became part of American folklorist Francis James Child's traditional folk collection named Child Ballads. The song was originally known as "Young Hunting" but became known as "Henry Lee" and "Love Henry" as well as other names.... which is common for old traditional folk songs as they go through the generations. The song tells the story of Young Hunting (Henry Lee) telling his woman, possibly the mother of his child, that he is in love with another woman and is leaving her. She convinces him to get drunk and stay for one more night before he leaves her. She then stabs him to death and throws his body in a well, with the help from a friend, whom she enlists with a diamond ring. She even gets taunted by a bird in a tree that witnesses the dumping of the body. His body is eventually found and she is later burned at the stake.... classic trad murder ballad, methinks. Dick Justice recorded it in 1929 under the "Henry Lee" name and Nick Cave's version was based lyrically on this. However, musically it is quite different and is more of a Nick Cave composition.... with some slight similarities to the original. PJ Harvey guests and takes the roll of the scorned woman. Nick Cave and PJ Harvey were in a relationship at the time and that is evident in the video.
Dick Justice - "Henry Lee"
Dick Justice version (Lyrics)
"Get down, get down, little Henry Lee, and stay all night with me.
The very best lodging I can afford will be fare better'n thee."
"I can't get down, and I won't get down, and stay all night with thee,
For the girl I have in that merry green land, I love far better'n thee."
She leaned herself against a fence, just for a kiss or two;
With a little pen-knife held in her hand, she plugged him through and through.
"Come all you ladies in the town, a secret for me keep,
With a diamond ring held on my hand I'll never will forsake."
"Some take him by his lily-white hand, some take him by his feet.
We'll throw him in this deep, deep well, more than one hundred feet.
Lie there, lie there, loving Henry Lee, till the flesh drops from your bones.
The girl you have in that merry green land still waits for your return."
"Fly down, fly down, you little bird, and alight on my right knee.
Your cage will be of purest gold, in deed of property."
"I can't fly down, or I won't fly down, and alight on your right knee.
A girl would murder her own true love would kill a little bird like me."
"If I had my bend and bow, my arrow and my string,
I'd pierce a dart so nigh your heart your wobble would be in vain."
"If you had your bend and bow, your arrow and your string,
I'd fly away to the merry green land and tell what I have seen."
Nick Cave version (Lyrics)
Get down, get down, little Henry Lee
And stay all night with me
You won't find a girl in this damn world
That will compare with me
And the wind did howl and the wind did blow
La la la la la
La la la la lee
A little bird lit down on Henry Lee
I can't get down and I won't get down
And stay all night with thee
For the girl I have in that merry green land
I love far better than thee
And the wind did howl and the wind did blow
La la la la la
La la la la lee
A little bird lit down on Henry Lee
She leaned herself against a fence
Just for a kiss or two
And with a little pen-knife held in her hand
She plugged him through and through
And the wind did roar and the wind did moan
La la la la la
La la la la lee
A little bird lit down on Henry Lee
Come take him by his lily-white hands
Come take him by his feet
And throw him in this deep deep well
Which is more than one hundred feet
And the wind did howl and the wind did blow
La la la la la
La la la la lee
A little bird lit down on Henry Lee
Lie there, lie there, little Henry Lee
Till the flesh drops from your bones
For the girl you have in that merry green land
Can wait forever for you to come home
And the wind did howl and the wind did moan
La la la la la
La la la la lee
A little bird lit down on Henry Lee
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