We have a variety of versions on the Digital Tradition:

• Single Girl {filename[ SINGLGRL} is more-or-less the Carter Family "Single Girl, Married Girl," weith two additional verses by Mickey Miller. See this thread (click) for discussion of the Carter Family Song.
• I Wish I Was Single Again is a man's song:

  When I was single, Oh then, Oh then,
  When I was single, Oh then,
  When I was single,
  My money did jingle,
  I wish I was single again, again,
  I wish I was single again.

  The Digital Tradition does not identify the source of this song. I'd say this is related to the woman's song, but not the same song. Maybe it's better to discuss this one in another thread.

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The remaining three versions are directly related to the lyrics Gargoyle posted. All three versions are from Sharp's English Folk Songs in the Southern Appalachians:

• The Single Girl, DT filename[ SNGLGRL2
• The Single Girl (3), DT filename[ SNGLGRL3
• The Single Girl (4), DT filename[ SNGLGRL4 - this one is just a fragment.

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Here's the Traditional Ballad Index on this song:

I Wish I Were a Single Girl Again

DESCRIPTION: "When I was single, marriage I did crave. Now I am married, it's trouble to my grave. Lord, I wish I was a single girl again!" The wife complains of hard work in the kitchen, of poverty, of poor clothes, hungry children, and a husband who steals her money
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1907 (Belden)
KEYWORDS: husband wife marriage poverty
FOUND IN: US(Ap,SE)
REFERENCES (11 citations):
Warner 126, "I Wish I Were a Single Girl Again"
Belden, p. 437, "When I Was Single" (1 text, with no letter designation; the lettered texts are all "I Wish I Were Single Again (I - Male)")
BrownIII 28, "I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again" (3 texts)
Fuson, p. 188, "Oh, I Wish I Were Single Again" (1 text)
Scott-BoA, p. 171, "The Single Girl" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-FSUSA 13(A), "When I Was Single (I)" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-FSNA 84, "Single Girl" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-ABFS, pp. 154-155, "When I Was Single" (1 text, 1 tune)
Darling-NAS, pp. 272-273, "Single Girl" (1 text)
Arnett, p. 59, "Single Girl" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, SNGLGRL3*
Roud #436
RECORDINGS:
Anne, Judy, & Zeke Canova, "I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again" (Brunswick 264, 1928)
Cousin Emmy [Cynthia May Carver], "I Wish I Was a Single Girl, Again" (Decca 24215, 1947)
Vernon Dalhart & Co., "I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again" (Edison 51610, 1925)
Sid Harkreader, "I Wish I Was A Single Girl Again" (Vocalion 15035, 1925)
Kelly Harrell, "I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again" (Victor 19563, 1925; on KHarrell01) (Victor 20242, 1926; on KHarrell01)
Roscoe Holcomb, "I Wish I Were a Single Girl Again" [LP] or "Single Girl" [CD] (on MMOK, MMOKCD)
Lulu Belle & Scotty, "I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again" (Conqueror 9189, 1938; Vocalion 04772, 1939)
New Lost City Ramblers, "Single Girl" (on NLCR14)
Frank Proffitt, "Single Girl" (on FProffitt01)
Riley Puckett ,"I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again" (Bluebird B-8083, 1939)
Pete Seeger, "When I Was Single" (on PeteSeeger07, PeteSeeger07b)
Henry Whitter, "I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again" (OKeh 40375, 1925)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "I Wish I Were Single Again (II - Female)"
cf. "Single Girl, Married Girl"
cf. "Sorry the Day I Was Married"
cf. "When I Was Young (II)" (theme)
cf. "For Seven Long Years I've Been Married" (theme)
Notes: Roud lumps "I Wish I Were a Single Girl Again" and "Single Girl, Married Girl" (and perhaps others). Definitely a stretch, though the songs can easily cross-fertilize. - RBW
File: Wa126

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