Oh, hard is the fortune
of all woman kind
She's always controlled
she's always confined
Controlled by her parents
untill she's a wife
A slave to her husband
the rest of her life
Oh, i'm just a poor girl
my fortune is sad
I've always been courted
by the wagoner's lad
He's courted me daily
by night and by day
But now he is packing
and moving away
My parents don't like him
because he is poor
They say he's not worthy
of entering my door
He works for a living
his money's his own
And if they don't like it
they can leave him alone
Your horses are hungry
go feed them some hay
Then sit down beside me
as long as you may
My horses aint hungry
they won't eat your hay
Then fare thee well darlin
I'll be on my way
Your wagon needs
greasing your whip is to mend
Then sit down beside me
as long as you can
My wagon is greasy
my whip's in my hand
Then fare thee well darlin
no longer to stand