I loved her first You won her heart

voice; pianosCollected by Ronald Scheuerman and Bob Edmisten For M. C. Parler Transcribed by Ronald Scheuerman Sung by Mrs. Stella Evans Huntsville, Arkansas 20 December 1959 Reel 323, Item 1 and Mary Bradley Clerk and Millionaire One afternoon, while walking down a quite thoroughfare Two men I met. One was a clerk & one a millionaire. They both had loved the same girl & the rich man won the race. The clerk congratulated him when they met face to face. Said he I thought she loved me But it's needles now to say, How Happy I was with her until you came in my way He then spoke in a quite voice as tho his heart would break. Although you say you love her now, was I who loved her first. Chorus: I loved her first You won her heart When the love tale was told I knew my hopes had been shattered to win. For you had nothing but gold, I hope you both may be happy thru life, But if all comes to the worst I'll be a friend to you and your wife. Just because I loved her first. The Rich man laughed at him to scorn and walked away in pride He thought not of the future and cared less what betide. In war and death, while all is fair He to himself did say. But very different thought the clerk who wished that he were dead. As year's rolled by a letter from this woman came one day. It told she never loved the man, That she had ran away. He answered her too late, too late for I am married now So go back to your husband and don't forget your mirage vows. Chorus (27)Funding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation