Cat. #0428 (MFH #341) - As sung by Mrs. George Ripley, Milford, Missouri on November 21, 1959
VERSE 1
Two brown hands with tossing curls
Red lips shouting over pearls
Bare feet white and wet with dew
Two eyes black an' two eyes blue
VERSE 2
They were standing where a brook
Bending like a shepherds crook
With its willows an' thick ranks
Soft timber finged its mossy banks
VERSE 3
Half in thought an' half in play
Katie Lee an' Willie Gray
She had cheeks like cherry's red
He was taller, most a head
VERSE 4
She with arms like leaves of snow
Swung a basket to an' fro
As they loitered half in play
Katie Lee an' Willie Gray
VERSE 5
Pretty Katie, Willie said,
- - - - - - dash of red
crowned th brownest of his cheek
Boys are strong an' girls are weak
VERSE 6
An' I'll carry so I will
Katie's basket up th hill
Katie answered, with a laugh
No, but you may carry half
VERSE 7
Men are only boys grown tall
Hearts don't change much, after all
And in long years from that day
Katie Lee an' Willie gray
VERSE 8
Stood again beside th brook
Bending like a shepherds crook
VERSE 9
Is it strange that Willie said,
While again a dash of red
Crowned th brownest of his cheek,
I am strong an' you are weak
VERSE 10
Will you trust me, Katie dear
Walk beside me without fear
May I carry if I will
All your burdens up th hill
VERSE 11
Katie answered with a laugh,
No, but you may carry half
VERSE 12
Close beside th little brook
Bending like a shepherds crook
Stands a cottage where today
Katie lives with Willie Gray
VERSE 13
On th porch, she sets an' lo
Swings a basket to an' fro
Vastly different from th one
That she swung in years agone
VERSE 14
This is long an' deep an' wide
An' has rockers at th side
Mr. Ripley helps his wife, on this song, and he reached over and held her hand.