The Maple Tree

Poor bottom Virginia In the spring of '43 Waltzin' to your Ma's Clawhammer banjo melody Tryin' to catch our breath Beneath the lonesome maple tree Shakin' and a weepin' You declared your love for me Sooner than we'd crossed the Threshold of your cabin door 'Fore the blossoms fell Our country called you off to war I saw you to the station And above the engines roar Shakin' and a weepin' Swore I'd wait forever more And then soldier who They mistook for you Bore the brunt of the battle and died The misguided news Ended my life too For shakin' and a weepin' I became your brothers bride Hangin' out the washin' Of a boy I hardly knew Heavy with the promise Only dyin can undo You crossed the prairie homeward With your heart beat black and blue Shakin' and a weepin' cause your Woman proved untrue And at the break of day Watched your body sway From the arm of an old maple tree Cut the ropes red braid With the same sweet blade That shakin' and a weepin' Sent me swiftly home to thee Wakin' and a sleepin' by your side eternaly