Historical Folk Lyrics
"The Wagoner's Lad"

"My horses ain't hungry, they won't eat your hay,
It's farewell dear Polly, I'm riding away:
Your parents despise me 'coz I'm over poor;
They say I ain't fittin' to enter your door!

"I'm just a poor cowboy, I don't own no herd;
I ain't got much money, but give you my word,
I'm handy at roping up poor loneful strays,
An' we'll sure be rich 'fore the end of our days!

"Dear Polly, you promised to be my own wife,
You vowed for to wed me and share all through life,
So mind your words, Polly, I've not long to stay:
Please pack up your duds and we'll ride far away!"

"You know I'm your Polly, your sweet loving dear;
'Coz my kin despise you, don't you have a fear.
Just calm down your feelings and raise up your head;
I know you're the fittin' man for me to wed!

"Yes, Tom, I'll go with you, though you're poor, I'm told,
But it's love I'm wanting, not silver or gold-
Tie on my belongings, we'll ride till we come
To some far-off cabin, and there make our home!

"I mourn for to leave maw, she treats me so fine,
But I've given my promise to you, cowboy mine!
So I'll bid good-bye to my parents this day,
Then we'll mount our ponies and lope far away!

"Far over the mountains we'll come to a rest
In a pretty valley, and build us a nest:
We'll raise a big herd, and a fine family,
And live out our lives there, Tom, all happily!"