Collected by Merlin Mitchell Mrs. Opal Donahue
Transcribed by Mary C. Parler Galena, Mo.
Sept. 12, 1950
Reel 74, Item 5
Sweet Fern
Springtime is coming, sweet lonesome bird,
Your echo in the woodland I hear,
Down in the meadow so lonesome you seem
While the moonlight is shining so clear.
But I know he's away in a far-distant land,
A land that is over the sea,
So fly to him a-singing your sweet little song,
And tell him to come back to me.
Chorus:
Sweet fern, sweet fern,
Tell me is my darlin' still true.
Sweet fern, sweet fern,
I'll be just as happy as you.
Upon my finger he placed a small ring
On the day he was leavin' his home,
I promised I'd be his own dear little girl
And love him wherever he roam.
But though he's away in a far-distant land,
A land that is over the sea,
So fly to him and sing your sweet little song
And tell him to come back to me.
Chorus:
(Mitchell: This is one that the Carter family used to sing a
long time ago.)
Ozark Folksong Collection
