Forsaken Lover O Johnny is on the water Let him sink or swim For if he can live without me I can live without him Johnny is a young boy But still younger am I For how long has he told me How constant he would be I'll take off this black dress And I'll flourish in green For I don't care if I'm forsaken I am only nineteen O meeting is a pleasure But to part with him was grief But an unconstant lover Is worse than a thief A thief can but rob you And take what you have But an unconstant lover Will take you to your grave The grave it will rot you And turn you to dust There is scarce one out of twenty That a young girl can trust They will court you and kiss you And get your heart warm Then, as soon as your back's turned They'll laugh you to scorn The cuckoo is a pretty bird She sings as she flies She brings us good tidings And tells us no lies Forsaken, forsaken Forsaken am I He will think himself mistaken If he thinks that I'll cry pieces of many songs from Cox, Folk-Songs of the South SOF
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