Two Sweethearts

(album: The Carter Family Volume 1 - 1927-1934 - 2002)

A crowd of young fellows one night at a ball
Were telling of sweethearts they had
All seemed jolly except one lad
Who seemed downhearted and sad

Come join us, Ned, his comrades then said
Surely some girl has loved you
Then raising his head, proudly he said
I'm in love with two

One has hair of silver-gray
The other one is just like gold
One is young and youthful, too
The other one is aged and old
But dearer than life are they both to me
From neither would I part
One is my mother, God bless her, I love her
The other one is my sweetheart

My sweetheart is a poor working girl
Whom I'm determined to wed
Father said no, 'twill never be so
You must marry an heiress instead

Mother was young, she knows how it is
When father met her she was poor
Ned, don't fret, she'll be your wife yet
For he will consent, I am sure

One has hair of silver-gray
The other one is just like gold
One is young and youthful, too
The other one is aged and old
But dearer than life are they both to me
From neither would I part
One is my mother, God bless her, I love her
The other one is my sweetheart