Cat. #1164 (MFH #812) - As sung by O.B. Campbell, Vinita, Oklahoma on August 9, 1971
VERSE 1
Little Willie and Mary stood on th sea shore
Their last farewell to take
Return no more, little Willie she says
Then surely my heart it will break
VERSE 2
Have no fear, little Mary he cried
As he kissed, th young girl by his side
My absence, don't mourn, for when I return
I'll make little Mary my bride
VERSE 3
Th years rolled on without any news
Still one day when she stood in th door
A beggar came by, with a patch on his eye
Quite lame he most cageously cried
VERSE 4
Have compassion on me your friend I will be
Your fortune I'll tell, besides th lad whom you mourn
Will never return to make little Mary his bride
VERSE 5
She, startled an' trembled an' then she did say
Of th money I have, I will give
If th question I ask you will tell me true
O, say, does my Willie yet live
VERSE 6
He lives, t'is true, but in poverty poor
All shipwrecked an' troubled besides
He return no more, because he is poor
To make little Mary his bride
VERSE 7
No tongue can tell of th joy that I feel
Although his misfortune I'll mourn
He's welcome to me though in poverty be
His jacket all tattered an' torn
VERSE 8
For I love him so dear, so true an' sincere
No other I ever will have
Those, th richest of clothes all covered with gold
Can't make little Mary their bride
VERSE 9
Th beggar then tore th patch from his eye
His coat he laid by his side
Coat, jacket an' trousers, cheeks red as a rose
Little Willie stood by Mary's side
VERSE 10
Forgive me dear Mary, to her he did say
T'was only your love that I tried
An' he hastened away at th close of th day
An' he made little Mary his bride