Villikins and His Dinah 7th in 1901

Balladindex: Ballads/LM31, Laws M31A/B.
Stage song which emerged in England in 1853 as a burlesque version of a traditional ballad called "William and Dinah": Dinah is in love with (William/Vilikins); her father insists that she will marry someone else. Dinah steals away, writes a note to her love, and drinks poison. Her love finds her body and in turn kills himself. They are buried in the same grave
Its great popularity led to the tune being later adopted for many other songs, of which the best known today is "Sweet Betsy from Pike".