Historical Folk Lyrics
"My Parents Raised Me Tenderly"

My parents raised me tenderly, they had no one but me;
And I was bent on roving, with them I could not agree.
It was my being a rover that grieved their hearts so;
I left my dear old parents out in the world to go.

There was a wealthy old farmer who lived on a farm nearby,
He had a lovely daughter on whom I'd cast my eye.
She was a lovely maiden, both beautiful and fair;
There's no other girl in this wide, wide world with her I can compare.
I asked her if she would be willing for me to go away.
She said that she would be willing if I would return some day.

I told her that I would be true to her till death should prove unkind;
I said my last, my last farewell to the girl I left behind.

She said, "I know you love me as dearly as I love you;
But, oh, my heart would be broken if you should prove untrue.

"In God's care do I give you, may He guide your wayward feet,
To overcome temptation and into Glory meet."

I met sweet Willie in Denver, she fell in love with me.
She said, "My pockets being lined with gold, hard labour you may lay o'er,
If you'll consent to marry me and say you'll roam no more."

The gold indeed was tempting, sweet Willie's face was fair;
She was indeed very lovely-blue eyes and light-brown hair.
She was a lovely maiden, but love to me was blind,
For she will never, no never compare with the girl I left behind.

The gold at last has won me, sweet Willie has won the prize,
I've sold my love for a fortune, I've blighted a fair young life.

I've broken a noble, trusting heart-the purest God can give;
A man who'll break a woman's heart on earth ouglu uo; Lu live.
Oh, yes, I have gold and plenty, my wife is very kind,
But, oh, my heart is aching for the girl I left behind.
And when this life is over, and Heaven at last is kind,
I'll see again the fair sweet face of the girl I left behind.