Cat. #0539 (MFH #514) - As sung by Harrison Burnett, Fayetteville, Arkansas on August 18, 1960
VERSE 1
Fare you well green hills
An' soft meadows adieu
Your roads an' your mountains
I now part with you
No more your beauties
My eyes shall be blessed
No more of sweet bosom
Can sing me to rest
VERSE 2
Farewell dear friends
I will bid you adieu
I would not've been here
If it had'n been for you
I'll no more my downfalls
To my darling little wife
God pardon an' pity me
Poor prisoner for life
VERSE 3
Farewell little birdies
So nimble can fly
You can sing all of your sorrows
An' troubles all by
What would I give
Such freedom to share
To roam at my ease
An' to breath th fresh air
VERSE 4
Farewell little birdies
That glides in thy stream
Your life an' all happenings
Through sunshine an' gleam
No chance in prison
Except a deep sigh
My heart sinked within me
An' I wish't I could die
VERSE 5
Farewell to my classmates
I'll bid you adieu
My life an' all happenings
I now part with you
No sun, moon, nor starlight
Can be in my sight
It's nothing but a dungeon
On a cold, stormy night
VERSE 6
What's life without liberty
I oft times have said
A poor wandering mind
Always in a dread
What would I give
Such freedom to share
To roam at my ease
An' to breath th fresh air
VERSE 7
So early one morning
So early one spring
I could hear th birds a'whistle
I could hear th birds sing
So early one morning
I could hear th calf bawl
An' I'd know I was a free man
From behind that stone wall