Darling Little Joe

Cat. #0177 (MFH #132) - As sung by Ethel Hunter, Springfield, Missouri on June 29, 1958

VERSE 1
O, what will th birds do, Mother in th spring
Th little brown birds 'round our door
Will they harp at th door or chirp at th window
Asking, why Joe wanders out no more

VERSE 2
O, Mother dear, you will miss me for awhile
But in heaven no larger will I grow
And any kind angel will know at th gate
When you call for your darling little Joe

VERSE 3
O, what will my kitten do, Mother all alone
Will he stop in his frolick for a day
Will he lie on th rug by th side of th bed
As he did when I once went away

VERSE 4
Then, love Tige my Mother, my poor little dog
For you know he will mourn me for true
Speak kindly to him an' often of Joe
And pet him on his brown shaggy head

VERSE 5
O, what will old Thomas, th gardner say
When you ask him for flowers for me
Will he give you th rose he has tended so long
Or th first fair flower of th tree

VERSE 6
I saw th tears come in his honest old eyes
And he said, t'was th wind brought them there
As he gazed on my face growing paler each day
An' his hand trembled over my hair

VERSE 7
Then, poor Uncle Jack, in th far away camp
He will feel sad o'er th latters you write
Tell him, dear Mother dear, I have gone to th front
Marching near'r and nearer to th fight

This was sung by my Mother and she had learned this from my Grandmother Rose.

Variants