I once had a true love, her name was Maggie Brown Her eyes they were the color of the sun burning down And she had hair that smelled like jasmine, I loved her from the start How was I to know she’d have a cold black heart
Well Maggie was my true love, the only kiss I knew I’d meet her at the oak tree in the cool evening dew Where we would walk beside the levee our fingers intertwined While the crimson moon gazed through the needles of the pines We’d lay beside each other, staring at the sky Listenin’ to the whistlin’ of the train blowin’ by As it was on it’s way to Macon The town where I was born We’d make love in the darkness, ‘til the hours of the morn
Waterfalls and rainbows, sweet salvation sin As I lay there sleeping against her golden skin, My friends now gather around and listen close The story takes a turn I wasn’t fair young Maggie’s only lover I did learn I went down by the oak tree lookin’ for my lass And walked east towards the levee with the sunset in my past And then I ran through briars and brambles, until I finally found My Maggie and her true love there lyin’ on the ground My eyes they filled with fire, they didn’t see me there I watched as she made love to him, caressed him with her hair I don’t remember how it happened I guess I just saw red I drew my pistol from my belt and shot them graveyard dead
I once loved a maiden her name was Maggie Brown But now I’m riding on a boxcar back to Macon town The setting sun will never let me forget what deed I have done Until the day they hunt me down, I’m livin’ on the run