Hi,

The problem with the Carters "Broken Hearted Lover" is that it's similar to all the "Dear Companion," "True Lover's Farewell" songs- they have similar floating lyrics and forms. Other songs (Stonemans and Carolina Buddies) are also named "Broken Hearted Lover" and they may be different songs. The Delmore Brothers also did a different song titled Broken Hearted Lover.

Then there are the printed versions. Here's some information from the Ballas index and Folk Index. Anyone that can help sort this out please do. I'll start looking over the different versions.

Last Farewell, The (The Lover's Return)
DESCRIPTION: "So at last you have come back Since time at last has set you free...." The singer recalls his old love for the other -- but concludes that it is all over now: "No, no, you must not take my hand; God never gives us back our youth...."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1932 (Henry)
KEYWORDS: love separation return age infidelity
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Randolph 761, "The Last Farewell" (2 texts, 1 tune)
Randolph/Cohen, pp. 495,496 "The Last Farewell" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 761A)
MHenry-Appalachians, pp. 152-153, "And So You Have Come Back to Me" (1 text)
Spaeth-WeepMore, pp. 33-34, "Too Late" (1 text, 1 tune)

Lover's Return (III), The
DESCRIPTION: Mostly floating verses: "If I had listened to mother, I would not a-been here today." "Let him go, let him go, God bless him, He's mine where ever he may be." "I have a ship out on the ocean." At the end, "My own sweet Robert" arrives from over the sea
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1931 (Fuson)
KEYWORDS: love separation return reunion floating verses
FOUND IN: US(Ap)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Fuson, p. 111, "The Lover's Return" (1 text)
Roud #16411
Notes: There may be a line or two in this song not paralleled elsewhere. There may not, too. But the combination is unique: The first verse and the "Let him go" chorus imply a betrayal song, the second verse is the floating "I have a ship on the ocean... but before my true love would suffer"; the last verse is closest to unique as it involves the man's return. - RBW

The Lover's Return [Me II-E 6]

At - Broken Hearted Lover; You've Come Back to me
Spaeth, Sigmund G. / Weep Some More My Lady, Doubleday, Bk (1927), p 33 (Too Late [You Have Come Back to Me])
Acuff, Roy; and his Smokey Mountain Boys. Fly, Birdie, Fly. 1939-40, Rounder SS024, LP (1988), trk# 8 [1940/04] (Broken Heart)
Carter Family. Longing for Old Virginia, Rounder 1071, CD (1998), trk# 3 [1934/05/08]
Finch, Mayme. Owens, William A. (ed.) / Texas Folk Songs. 2nd edition, SMU Press, Bk (1976/1950), p 95 [1941] (Too Late [You Have Come Back to Me])
Hawker, Ginny; and Kay Justice. Signs and Wonders, June Appal JA 0060, Cas (1990), trk# 5
Hazel And Alice. Who's That Knocking, Verve/Folkways FVS-900, LP (1966), trk# 13
Jones, Grandpa. 24 Great Country Songs, King 967, LP (1975), trk# B.06 (You've Come Back to me)
Lewis, Laurie; and Dudley Connell. Masters of the Banjo, Arhoolie CD 421, CD (1994), trk# 15 [1993/11/11]
McCord, May Kennedy. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume IV, Religious Songs and Others, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p266/#761A [1934/04/14] (Last Farewell)
Sizemore, Asher; and Little Jimmy. Sizemore, Asher; and Little Jimmy / Favorite Mountain Ballads & Old T..., Sizemore, fol (1932), p13 (And So You Have Come Back to Me)
Starr, Fred. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume IV, Religious Songs and Others, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p267/#761B [1938/07/12]
Stecher, Jody; and Kate Brislin. Song That Will Linger, Rounder 0274-C, Cas (1989), trk# 8
Stoneman, Ernest V. ("Pop"). Round the Heart of Old Galax, Vol 1. Featuring Ernest Stoneman, County 533, LP (1980), trk# B.06 [1928/11/01] (Too Late [You Have Come Back to M
Trickett, Ed. People Like You, Folk Legacy FSI-092, LP (1982), trk# 9
Voss, Jane. Album of Songs, Bay 207, LP (1976), trk# 7
Weaver Brothers. Home in West Virginia: West Virginia Project, Vol. 2, Old Homestead OHCS 177, LP (1987), trk# 1 [1929/10/22] (You Came Back to Me)

Broken-Hearted Lovers/Lover [Me II-E11]

Rt - I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes
Albert E Brumley's Songs of the Pioneers #2, Brumley, Fol (1973), 26
Stoneman, Ernest V. ("Pop"). Ernest V. Stoneman, Vol.1, Old Homestead OHCS 172, LP (1986), trk# A.02 [1928/10/28]

BROKEN HEARTED LOVER- Carter Family

Would you let her part us darling,
Could you truly turn away;
Would it make your heart ache darling,
Not to see me night or day?

CHORUS: I've been dreaming of you darling,
Dreaming of your eyes so blue;
Take me back for love I'm dying,
And I love none else but you.

Many a day with you I've rambled,
Down by the shades of the deep blue sea;
There you told me that you love me,
That you love none else but me.

I will give you back your letters,
And the picture I loved so well;
How it makes my heart ache darling,
Oh, it is hard to say farewell.