Here is the version that Iris Dement sang in the film SONGCATCHER and on the CD:

When I first come to this country in eighteen and forty-nine
I saw many fair lovers but I never saw mine
I view-ed it all around me, saw I was quite alone
And me a poor stranger and a long way from home.

Well, my true love she won't have me and it's this I understand
For she wants some free holder and I have no land
I couldn't maintain her on silver and gold
But all of the other fine things that my love's house could hold.

Fair thee well to ol' Mother, fair thee well to my Father, too
I'm going for to ramble this wide world all through
And when I get weary, I'll sit down and cry
And think of my Saro, pretty Saro, my bride.

Well, I wished I was a turtledove, had wings and could fly
Far away to my lover's lodgings, tonight I'd draw nigh
And there in her lily-white arms I'd lay there all night
And watch through them little winders for the dawning of day.
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Here is the version that Sheila Kay Adams sings on her cassette, LOVING FORWARD, LOVING BACK, from Granny Dell Records, GDR-3107:

When I first come to this country in eighteen and forty-nine
I saw many fair lovers but I never saw mine
I view-ed all around me, saw I was quite alone
And me a poor stranger and a long ways from home.

Well it's not this long journey I'm a dreadin' for to go
Nor the country I'm, a leavin' nor the debts that I owe
There's only one thing that troubles my mind
That's leaving my darlin' pretty Saro behind.

Fare-thee-well to old Mother, fare-thee-well to Father, too
I'm a goin' for to ramble this wide world all through
And when I get weary, I'll sit down and cry
And I'll think of my darlin', pretty Saro, my bride.

Well, I wish I was a poet and could write some fine hand
I would write my love a letter that she might understand
And I'd send it by the water where the islands overflow
And I'll think of my darlin' wherever I go.

Well, I wish I was a turtledove, had wings and could fly
Right now to my lover's lodging tonight I'd draw nigh
And there in her lily-white arms, I'd lie there all night
And I'd watch them little windows for the dawning of day.

These two versions share three verses. Sheila has two verses that Iris omits and Iris has one that Sheila omits. You will find all of these verses in the more comprehensive versions to follow, and I would suggest that both versions have a common source. Iris's tune and phrasing is almost exactly the same as Sheila's. Even Iris's pronunciation and dialect reflect Sheila's training. For comparison, see Sheila's version of "Barbara Allen" on her CD MY DEAREST DEAR, from Granny Dell Records 1220, and compare this with Emmy Rossum's version of "Barbara Allen" on the SONGCATCHER CD. It is uncanny! Sheila says that it took six weeks, seven days a week, several hours a day for Emmy to learn how to do that.