Collected and transcribed by Mary Celestia Parler
Sung by Harrison Burnette Fayetteville, Arkansas July 3, 1958
Reel 292, Item 10
Along About the Time When They’re Sweet Sixteen
Come all of you Missouri boys and listen to my song,
It’s not but a few verses and it won’t detain you long,
It's of the pretty girls so often you have seen Along about the time when they're sweet sixteen.
They are up before their glass for to comb and to lace,
And to make artificials for to wear around their waist,
They hardly look like they're fitten for to wean,
Along about the time when they're sweet sixteen.
Away to church and to Sunday school they will run,
Laugh and talk about the boys for to have a little fun,
Laugh and talk about the boys and call them all so green
Along about the time when they're sweet sixteen.
Walk up to one of them, say "May I go home with you tonight," She will always tell you "no" but her actions tells you "yes," She will look as independent and as sassy as a queen,
Along about the time when they're sweet sixteen.
Lay your arm around their neck as a many a one will do,
They will always strike at you and be sure to miss you too, They will soon forget that so on you they will lean Along about the time when they're sweet sixteen.