Lyr. Add: TWO LITTLE LADS

Two little lads, they had been friends
Ever since childhood days
Until one day, they met a fair maid
An angel with charming ways.

Both fell in love, each tried to win
This little maiden fair
Till sad was the day, the words she did say
They sent Tom away, in despair.

Years passed on, Jack won her hand
Just as the story goes
Until one day, in the middle of May
In th alter those two were made one.

Rush honeymoon, they returned soon,
Jack met poor Tom one day
Brace up my lad, don't look so sad,
Then Tom, to Jack, did say-

Jack, how I envy you
I envy you, Jack, yes I do
I know you won her fair an' square
I hope she'll be true to you.

I wish you much joy, ole boy
And here is my hand on it too
Jack, I'm not mad, for she loved you, my lad
Tho' I envy you Jack, yes I do.

They lived happy, both Jack and his wife
Until one fatal day
Sickness came on, poor Jack wasn't strong
And it called his dear life away.

His wife at the grave, O, how she did rave
For she knew not what to do
Till Tom came along, with a voice clear and strong
Says, sweetheart I'll marry you.

Years passed on, after the wed
Children, they now have four
Baby cries at night, Papa and Mamma, they fight
And Papa sleeps on the floor.

Poor Tom'll look back and think of poor Jack
While passing his grave, each day
He would stop with a sigh, for th tears filled his eyes
And those are the words he would say-

Jack, how I envy you
Why, I envy you Jack, yes I do
I know your troubles are o'er and passed
I'd gladly change places with you.

How happy you must be
I once't was happy too
You're far away, I'll be with you some day
Tho' I envy you Jack, yes, I do.

Mrs. Pearl Brewer, Pocahontas, Arkansas, 1958, with sheet music (two tunes- one for verse 1-4, 7-10 and another for 5 and 11) and audio.
Quite a different take from the original "Jack and Joe." From Max Hunter Coll., link given in post above, Q, 02 Oct 03.

Haven't found the original by Gray, 1894. There is a version in the Wolf Coll., but it offers nothing new.

Classmates.com has taken the "Give My Love to Nell," Bradley Kincaid version (in the DT), given it a fancy background, and use it as an adv. on Genealogy-Rootsweb.