Springtime is coming, sweet lonesome bird Your echo in the woodland I hear Down in the meadow so lonesome you're singing While the moonlight is shining so clear But I know he's away in a far distant land A land that is over the sea Go fly to him singing your sweet little song And tell him to come back to me Sweet Fern (Sweet Fern) Sweet Fern (Sweet Fern) Oh, tell me, is my darling still true Sweet Fern (Sweet Fern) Sweet Fern (Sweet Fern) I'll be just as happy as you Well, a-lee-oh-lay-ee Well, a-lee-ho-lee-oh-lay-ee Yeah, lee-oh-lay-ee-hee-oh Lee-oh-lay-ee Oh, tell me, sweet Fern, is he thinking of me And the promise he made long ago He said he'd return from over the sea Oh, why do the earth roll so slow But I know he's away in a far distant land A land that is over the sea Go fly to him singing your sweet little song And tell him to come back to me Sweet Fern (Sweet Fern) Sweet Fern (Sweet Fern) Oh, tell me, is my darling still true Sweet Fern (Sweet Fern) Sweet Fern (Sweet Fern) I'll be just as happy as you Well, a-lee-oh-lay-ee Well, a-lee-ho-lee-oh-lay-ee Yeah, lee-oh-lay-ee-hee-oh Lee-oh-lay-ee Upon my finger he placed a small ring On the day he was leaving his home I promised I'd be his own dear little girl And love him wherever he'd roam [Chorus]