I NEVER WILL MARRY

There are several songs of this type. “I Will Never Marry” seems to have appeared in

England as “The Lover’s Lament for Her Sailor.” Most versions end by the woman

drowning herself. It was written by Fred Hellerman, using the nom de plume “Fred

Brooks”. Fred Hellerman was a member of the Weavers and you can find this song in The

Weavers Songbook. The tune is very close to the traditional one.

They say that love’s a gentle thing

But it’s only brought me pain

For the only man I ever loved

Has gone on the morning train

I never will marry

I’ll be no man’s wife

I expect to live single

All the days of my life

Well the train pulled out

The whistle blew

With a long and a lonesome moan

He’s gone he’s gone

Like the morning dew

And left me all alone

I never will marry

I’ll be no man’s wife

I expect to live single

All the days of my life

Well there’s many a change in the winter wind

And a change in the cloud’s design

There’s many a change in a young man’s heart

But never a change in mine

I never will marry

I’ll be no man’s wife

I expect to live single

All the days of my life

Banjo Mountain