From the Atlanta Daily New Era, May 31, 1868, this is the earliest text I've found. "Cushite" is evidently a coy synonym for "African-American":

"A POEM.--The following is a verbatim copy of a pathetic poem addressed by a young Cushite of the female persuasion to her absent lover, [of] whome she appears to be distrustful. We give the poem as written, but not as spelled.

Come all ye fair and tender ladies,
Take warning how you love young men,
They are like a bright star of a summer morning,
Just appear and then are gone.

They'll tell to you some lovely story,
They'll swear to you their love is true.
Straightway they'll go and court another,
And that's the love they have for you.

They'll tell to you some lovin' story,
Declare to your their love is true.
Straightway they'll go and court some other
And that is the love that they have for you.

I wish I'd known before I courted,
I never would have courted none.
I'd locked my heart above a-courting
And fastened it up with a silver pin.

I wish I was a little sparrow,
And I had wings then I could fly.
I'd fly away to my false true lover
And when you spoke I would be by.

I wish I was a little sparrow
That I had wings and I could fly;
I'd fly away to my false true lover
And when he'd speak I would deny.

But I am no little sparrow,
I have no wings neither can I fly,
So I sit down here in grief and sorrow
And try to pass my troubles by.

But I am not no little sparrow,
I have no wings, neither can I fly.
I'll sit down here and weep in sorrow,
And pass my troubles by and by.

Do you remember our days of courting
When your head was upon my breasts?
You could make me believe that the sun in the morning
And the moon rose in the west.