Source: “80 Appalachian Folk Songs” collected by Cecil Sharp and Maud Karpeles
Once I had a dear companion
Indeed I thought his love my own
Until a black eyed girl betrayed me
And now he cares no more for me
Just go and leave me if you wish to
And it will never trouble me
For in your heart you love another
And in my grave I’d rather be
Last night while you were sweetly sleeping
Dreaming in some soft repose
While I a poor girl, sad broken hearted
Listen to the wind that blows
When I see your babe laughing
It makes me think of your sweet face
But when I see your babe crying
It makes me think of my disgrace
Just go and leave me if you wish to
And it will never trouble me
For in your heart you love another
And in my grave I’d rather be
In the dark the blackbird’s silent
And at the dawn the blackbird crows
And if I had my own true lover
I would not cry again I know
I would not cry again I know