Mike Seeger
Текст песни Young McAfee On The Gallows

Draw near, kind friends, and learn of me,
My sad and awful history.
And may you ne'er forgetful be
Of all, this day, I tell to thee.

When I was but a growing lad,
A wandering orphan, lost and sad,
My darling came, walked by my side,
And soon became my lawful bride.

She was just as kind, she was just as sweet
As any woman ever could be.
And she would be living this very day,
If I had not met little Matty Gay.

Little Matty was young, she was in her prime,
Just all in bloom, just all in style.
She stole my heart, she broke my will,
And she caused me mine sweet wife to kill.

I would give my house, I would give my store,
I would give this world and ten thousand more,
If I could live again my life,
And bring back mine poor murdered wife.

Her body lies beneath the sod,
Her soul is resting with its God,
And soon my guilty soul shall be
Plunged into long eternity.

Kind friends, kind friends, I bid you adieu,
I can no longer stay with you.
But on bright heaven's starry plain,
I hope someday we'll meet again.