Cottage On The Hillside

Cat. #0811 (MFH #117) - As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on June 25, 1969

VERSE 1
In a cottage on th hillside
Sits a mother, aged an' gray
She was thinking of her loved one
At th barroom o'er th way

VERSE 2
And 'er mind goes back a few years
To her childhood happy day
When her darling boy, so lively
Round th cottage door would play

VERSE 3
Day by day she nused an' watched him
Cheered 'im in ever strife
Little dreaming in th future
He would ruin her peaceful life

VERSE 4
But at last, as he grew older
Mother's kindnes left his mine
He decided that he'd ramble
Leave'n home an' friends behind

VERSE 5
Mother followed to th station
Kissed 'er son a last goodbye
Prayed to God to love an' bles 'im
As th tears fell from 'er eyes

VERSE 6
First was card, an' than to drink'in
Took such lesson all th time
That would make his life disgraceful
And would get him into crime

VERSE 7
Finally Mother got a message
O'er th telphone
Asking her to meet her loved one
Who at last had ceased to roam

VERSE 8
Once more to th railroad station
Mother went, o'er flowed with joy
At th happy thoughts of meeting
Once't again her loving boy

VERSE 9
Then th agent looked upon her
Tears fell from her eyes, he said
Your son is coming by expressman
Yes, he's coming to you dead

VERSE 10
O, dear boys, from this take warning
Never turn your back on home
Never leave your friends an' loved ones
T' face th weched world alone

VERSE 11
Never rob n'r never gamble
Less some day you may fall
Never follow tho' who ramble
Never drink strong alkyhal