THE WAGONER'S LAD





I’m but a poor orphan, my fortune’s been bad,

I’ve a long time been courted by a waggoner’s lad.

He courted me truly by night and by day;

But now he is loaded and going away.



?

Your horses are hungry, go give them some hay;

Come sit down by me, darling, as long as you stay.

My horses aren’t’ hungry, nor they won’t eat your hay;

So fare you well, darling, I’ve no time to stay.



He mounted his horses and away he did ride,

And left the girl weeping on New River side;

But when you returned, she crowned him with joy,

And kissed the sweet lips of the wagoner boy.



I can love you right lightly, or I can love long,

I can love an old sweetheart till a new one comes on,

I can hug him and kiss and keep him with ease,

Then turn my back on him and court who I please.



So hard is the fortune of poor womankind.

They’re always controlled and they’re always confined,

Controlled by their parents until they’re made wives,

Then slaves for their husbands the rest of their lives.



Young ladies, young ladies, take warning from me,

Never cast your affection on a young man so free;

He will hug you and kiss you and tell you more lies

Than the leaves on the green trees or stars in the skies.