Oh, hard is the fortune of all womankind They're always controlled, they're always confined Controlled by their parents until they're a wife Then slaves to their husbands the rest of their lives Oh, I'm just a poor girl, my fortune is sad I've always been courted by the wagoner's lad He's courted me daily, by night and by day And now he is loading and going away Your parents don't like me because I am poor They say I'm not worthy of entering their door I work for my living, my money's my own And them that don't like me, they can leave me alone Your horses are hungry, go feed them some hay Then sit down here by me as long as you may My horses ain't hungry, they won't eat your hay So fare thee well, darling, I'll be on my way Your wagon needs greasing, your whip's for to mend Then sit down here by me as long as you can My wagon is greasy, my whip's in my hand So fare thee well, darling, no longer to stand