I once knew a little girl, I loved her as my life.

voiceCollected by Billie Lou Ratliff For Mary C. Parler Transcribed by Frances Majors Sung by Mrs. Gertie Ricketts Dutton, Arkansas January 2, 1959 Reel 268, Item 9 Come Once More I once knew a little girl, I loved her as ray life. I would freely give my heart and hand To make her my wife, Oh, to make her my wife. I went to see her one Sunday eve As I’d often done before. Somebody had persuaded her To let me come no more, Oh, to let me come no more. I took her by the little white hand And led her to the door; I put my arms around her And asked her once more, Saying, I'll be yours if you’ll be mine, The answer she did stare; And all the answer she would give, You cannot come no more, Oh, you cannot come no more. I started out for Mexico To serve seven long years. I got a letter from her saying, Love, come once more, Oh, saying, love, come once more. I wrote her an answer Just for to let her know When a young man is forsaken They ought not to go, Oh, they ought not to go. Come all you young lovers And listen to me. Don’t treat your sweetheart Like mine has treated me. Come all you young lovers And warning take from me. Don’t place your affections On a green and growing tree. The leaves they will wither, The roots they will decay; And the beauty of a fair young maid Will soon fade away, Oh, will soon fade away.Funding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation