14. A Warning To Girls- Caldwell (WV) 1928
14 - A WARNING TO GIRLS
Communicated by Miss Elizabeth Aileen Hatfield, Logan, Logan County, January 18, 1928. Obtained from Miss Nell Caldwell. Music noted by Miss Lydia I. Hinkel.
[music]
Major, Ionian.
Same tune as No. 12A.
1. I once loved a young man,
So dear to my life,
He told me so often,
Ho would make me his wife.
2. He fulfilled his promise,
He made me his wife,
You see what I came to,
I have ruined my whole life.
3. My baby is crying,
I an sick in bed,
My husband is off drinking,
And I wish I was dead.
4. Come all you fair ladies,
Take warning by me,
Never place your affection,
On a green growing tree.
5. For the leaves they will wither,
And the branches will die,
For a young man will fool you,
Or at least he will try.
6. They will hug you and kiss you,
They will make your heart ease,
But the first time your back's turned ,
They will court who they please.
7. They will hug you and kiss you,
And tell you more lies,
Than the cross ties on a railroad,
Or the stars in the sky.
8. I've a long road to travel,
And a rough way to go,
But if ever I get home,
I will leave there no more.
See FSVS p. 170.
Variations of stanzas 4, 5 find their way into several songs. cf. No.15, lb, and references given for the former (co;):
variations of stanza 5 are also fairly frequent in different songs, see Wetmore and Bartholomew, p. 9; Scarborough, Song Catcher, p. 121.
For additional texts, see: Henry, p. 278 (Journal XLIV, 84); Sharp-Karpeles, II, p, 14 (texts and tunes) (Halpert).