Cat. #1048 (MFH #743) - As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on March 11, 1970
VERSE 1
I once't had a sweetheart
Sweetheart brave an' true
His hair was dark an' curly
His lovin' eyes was blue
VERSE 2
They took him away
To th awful German war
An' when he came to say, goodbye
My heart did overflow
VERSE 3
He took a golden finger ring
Placed it on my hand
Said, remember me little darlin'
When I'm in no-mans-land
VERSE 4
It was on a Sunday evenin'
About th hour of three
When my darlin', start to leave me
Sail on th deep blue sea
VERSE 5
He promised to write me a letter
Promised to be true
When I read his letters
I pray th war is thru
VERSE 6
My Mother's dead, in Heaven
My Father's forsaken me
I have no one to love me
But th sailor on th deep blue sea
VERSE 7
The second letter I got from him
The war was just ahead
The next letter I got from him
My darlin' Bill, was dead
VERSE 8
I'll keep all of his letters
I'll keep his gold ring too
An' always live a single life
For th boy who was so true
VERSE 9
So, fare you well, dear friends
That's th last you'll see of me
For I'm going to end my troubles
By drownin' in th deep blue sea