Cat. #0458 (MFH #89) - As sung by Mr. William Edens, Mont Ne, Arkansas on January 20, 1960
VERSE 1
Once't I courted
A charming beauty bright
I courted her by day
And I courted her by night
I courted her for love
An' love I did obtain
An' I'm sure she must have loved me
She had no reason to complain
VERSE 2
So, I struck out
Californy for to go
To see if I
Could forget my love or no
O, seven long years
Been serving of my king
An' it's seven long years
Returning home again
VERSE 3
When their Mother
Seen me coming
She'd wrung her hands an' cried
Saying, my daughter loves you dearly
An' for your sake, she died
VERSE 4
O, then I was stroked
Like a man that was slain
Th tears, they poured down
Like showers of rain
Saying, o, ho, ho,ho
My grief I cannot bear
My true loves in 'er grave
An' I want to be there