Married and Single Life

Come all ye young people and listen to me
I'm going to tell you my sad destiny,
I'm a man by experience whose favours is won
Love has been the ruin of many a man.

If you go to get married, don't hasten it on
And don't you get married till you're full twenty-one
And don't you get married till you find your love set,
Then marry some good girl your love won't forget.

Come all you young gentlenien who want to be smart
Don't place your affections on a smiling sweetheart.
She's dancing before you some favours to gain,
Then turns her back on you witb scorn and disdain.

When a man's married he ain't his own man,
He must rove through the country and live as he can.
He's lost that sweet apparel, tbe flowers of life,
For selling his freedom to buy him a wife.

But when a man's single he can live at his ease,
He can rove through tbe country and do as he please
He can rove through the country and live at his will
Kiss Polly, kiss Betsy, and he is the same still.

Just pour out another bowl, boys, we'll drink bumpers round
We'll drink to the poorest, if they're to be found;
We'll drink to the single with the greatest success,
Likewise to the married and wish them no less.

From English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, Sharp
Collected from Mary Sands, NC 1916
RG



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