Ah hard is the fortune of all women kind They're always controlled, they're always confined Controlled by their parents until they are brides Then slaves to their husbands for the rest of their lives Oh I am a poor girl, my fortune is sad I have always been courted by the wagoner's lad He courted me daily both by night and by day And now he is loaded and going away Your parents don't like me because I am poor They say I'm not worthy of entering your door I work for my living, my money's my own And if they don't like me they can leave me alone Your horses are hungry, go feed them some hay Come sit down beside 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 Come sit down beside 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