There was a jolly old farmer
Who lived a neighbor nigh;
He had one only daughter,
Upon her I cast my eye
Had one only daughter,
Upon her I cast my eye.
I asked her if she would be willing
For me to cross the plain,
And if she would be true to me
'Til I returned again.
She would be true to me
'Til I returned again.
Said she would be true to me
'Til death came on decline,
So I shook hands and parted
With the girl I left behind.
So I shook hands and parted
With the girl I left behind.
I steered my boat for Portland,
Strange countries to see,
I met Miss Peggy Walker
And she fell in love with me.
Met Miss Peggy Walker
And she fell in love with me.
I knew if I should marry
That I'd be to blame;
The girl I left behind me
Would laugh at me for shame.
Girl I left behind me
Would laugh at me for shame.
I quit my work one evening
And walking up George Street,
The stage was just returning
And the Post boy I did meet.
Stage was just returning
And the Post boy I did meet.
He handed me a letter
That I might understand,
The girl I left behind me
Had married another man.
The girl I left behind me
Had married another man.
As I stood there lamenting,
Says he, "Poor boy, don't cry",
For I have plenty of money
For to serve both you and I.
For I have plenty of money
For to serve both you and I.
My pocketbook's quite empty
I think it's full time,
To stop and think no longer
Of the girl I left behind.
Marry Miss Peggy Walker
And have a jolly old time.
--
Note: "Peggy Walker" seems to be a variant of "The Girl I Left Behind."
