Ah hard is the fortune of all women kind
They're always controlled, they're always confined
Controlled by their parents until they are brides
Then slaves to their husbands for the rest of their lives
Oh I am a poor girl, my fortune is sad
I have always been courted by the wagoner's lad
He courted me daily both by night and by day
And now he is loaded and going away
Your parents don't like me because I am poor
They say I'm not worthy of entering your door
I work for my living, my money's my own
And if they don't like me they can leave me alone
Your horses are hungry, go feed them some hay
Come sit down beside me as long as you may
My horses ain't hungry, they won't eat your hay
So fare thee well, darling, I'll be on my way
Your wagon needs greasing, your whip's for to mend
Come sit down beside me as long as you can
My wagon is greasy, my whip's in my hand
So fare thee well, darling, no longer to stand
[The first verse is by a narrator, the second by the girl, the third by the boy, and the fourth and fifth verses are split between the boy and girl.]