My parents raised me tenderly,
They had no child but me.
My mind being placed on rambling,
With them I couldn't agree
Just to leave my aged parents
And them no more to see.

There was a wealthy gentleman
Who lived there very near by.
He had a beautiful daughter,
On her I cast an eye.
She was so tall and slender,
So pretty and so fair.
There never was a girl in
this whole wide world
With her I could compare.

I asked her if it differed
If I crossed over the plain.
She said, "It makes no difference
If you never return again."
We too shook hands and parted,
And I left my girl behind.

I started out in this wide world
Strange faces for to see.
I met little Maggie Walker
And she fell in love with me.
Her pockets all lined with greenback
And her labor I'll grow old,
Find more similar lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.com/L5QNow if you'll consent to marry me
I'll say I'll roam no more.

I traveled out one morning,
To the salt works I were bound.
And when I reached the salt works
I viewed the city all around.
Work and money were plentiful
And the girls all kind to me.
But the only object to my heart
Was a girl in Tennessee.

I traveled out one morning
Down on the market square.
The mail train being on arrival,
I met the carrier there.
He handed me a letter,
So's I could understand
That the girl I left in Tennessee
Had married another man.

I drove on down a little further
And found that it was true.
I turned my horse and buggy around
But I didn't know what to do.
I turned all around and about there --
Bad company I'll resign;
I'll drive all about from town to town
For the girl I left behind.