Clarence Ashley - Can I Sleep in Your Barn Tonight, Mister? lyrics

May I sleep in your barn tonight, mister? It's so cold sleeping out on the ground And the cold north wind is a-whistling And I have no place to lie down You may know that I use no tobacco Neither carry no matches or fire I will do you no harm, kind mister May I sleep just tonight in your barn? You have asked me how long I've been tramping Or living this kind of a life I will tell you my story, kind mister Oh, it runs through my heart like a knife Three years ago last summer I will never forget that sad day When a stranger came out from the city To the country to stay for his health Oh, my wife said she'd like to be earning Was something to add to-our home And she coaxed me until I consented For the s~ranger to stop there and board One evening as I came from my work, sir Whistling and Singing for joy I's expecting a kindhearted welcome To receive from my wife and little boy Nothing did I find but a letter Placed in the room upon the stand And the moment my eye fell upon it I picked it right up in my hand Oh, the words that was written upon it Oh, it run through my brain, run me wild Oh, it read that the stranger an Nellie Had ran off and taken my child Oh, we know there's a God up in heaven I've always been taught to believe I know he will give to the scoundrel The d**h that he ought to receive