Three little sister, barnyard blisters Cornhusk dolls and pinesap feet Grooms of barley, blushing when they ought be Milking cow and threshing wheat
Way-hey! Fiddle-aye-ay! Where is our Mary? Run, run away Took to the Cumberland road past May Mary, Mary, come home, come home Way-hey! Fiddle-aye-ay! Where is the parson? Come out and pray Dark is the road where the devils play Mary, Mary, come home
Daddy told the dresses, “Comb your tresses Cousin Clayton we’re to see Bought himself a man and miles of cotton Wants for Mary’s chastity” Mary shook her ribbons, none the ready Kicked the cart and tipped the bale Tugged the bull dog high up to the hayloft Father doused her with a pail
Way-hey! Fiddle-aye-ay! Where is our Mary? Run, run away Took to the Cumberland road past May Mary, Mary, come home, come home Way-hey! Fiddle-aye-ay! Where is the parson? Come out and pray Dark is the road where the devils play Mary, Mary, come home
Twice barked the dog, twice, twice wept the sisters Father dragged at Mary’s legs Mary dripped and kicked ’til father slipped Came crashing down the ladder pegs Sweet little children, screaming crimson Flocked to father on the floor Mary cried, but when he didn't answer Red feet, red paws to the door
Way-hey! Fiddle-aye-ay! Where is our Mary? Run, run away Took to the Cumberland road past May Mary, Mary, come home, come home Way-hey! Fiddle-aye-ay! Where is the parson? Come out and pray Dark is the road where the devils play Mary, Mary, come home Summer went missing, cold winds hissing Leaking roofs and icy groans Father shrivelled, sunk into a hay sack Sisters thinning by his bones Somewhere where the road forks left and coils There’s a girl of twelve with dog Clayton gone and wed himself another Mary fading in the fog
Way-hey! Fiddle-aye-ay! Where is our Mary? Run, run away Took to the Cumberland road past May Mary, Mary, come home, come home Way-hey! Fiddle-aye-ay! Where is the parson? Come out and pray Dark is the road where the devils play Mary, Mary, come
Way-hey! Fiddle-aye-ay! Where is our Mary? Run, run away Took to the Cumberland road past May Mary, Mary, come home, come home Way-hey! Fiddle-aye-ay! Where is the parson? Come out and pray Dark is the road where the devils play Mary, Mary, come home