Collected by Oma Kilgore For Mary Celestia Parler Transcribed by Oma Kilgore
Sting by Oma Kilgore Fayetteville, Arkansas August 14, 1959
Reel 285-286, Item 7
“May I Sleep in Your Barn tonight Mister"
Oh one night it was dark and 'twas stormy When along came a tramp in the rain.
He was making his way to the station To catch a long and distant train.
May I sleep you in your barn tonight, Mister, For it's cold lying out on the ground,
And the cold north wind is a whistling And I have no place to lie down.
I have no tobacco or matches I am sure I can do you no harm I will tell you my story, kind Mister For it runs through my heart like a storm.
Just three years ago last summer Oh, I never shall forget that sad day.
When a stranger came out from the city,
And he said that he wanted to stay.
My wife said she'd like to be earning Some money to add to our home And the talk was finally settled,
That the stranger might stay in our home.
One evening as I came from my work shop I was whistling and singing with joy Expecting a kind hearted welcome From my sweet loving wife and my boy.
But what should I find but a letter That was placed in a room on the stand And the moment my eyes fell upon it I picked it right up in my hands.
The note said my wife and the stranger Had left and had taken my son.
I wonder if God up in Heaven,
Only knows what the stranger has done.