Oh the birds were singing in the morning,

voiceCollected by Merlin Mitchell Transcribed by Mary C. Parler Sung by Booth Campbell Fayetteville, Arkansas March 16, 1950 Reel 41, Item 2 Sweet Kitty Wells You ask me, stranger, why I weep, And why, like others, I'm not gay, And why the tears 'um down my cheek From early morn till close of day. My story, stranger, you shall hear, For in my memory long to dwell Will cause you all to shed a tear O'er the grave of my sweet Kitty Wells. Chorus : Oh the birds were singing in the morning, And the ivy and the myrtle were in bloom, And the sun oer the hilltop was dawning; 'Twas then we laid her in the tomb. I never shall forget the time When we together roamed the dell, I kissed her cheek and named the day When I should marry Kitty Wells. Death came in my cabin door And stole from me my joy and pride, And when I found she was no more, I laid my banjo down and cried. Chorus : (Repeat) I oftimes wish that I was dead And laid beside her in the tomb; The sorrow that bowed down my head, Is silent as the midnight gloom. Chorus: (Repeat)Funding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation