"I Wish I Was Single Again"

...from great collection at the...

Wolf Folklore Collection: Lyon College



I WISH I WAS SINGLE AGAIN
(WHEN I WAS SINGLE)
Sung by: Mrs. W.B. Apple
Recorded on 7/20/62

I wish I was single again, again,
I wish I was single again,
And when I was single
My pockets did jingle,
And I wish I was single again.

I married me a wife, oh then, oh then,
I married me a wife, oh then.
I married me a wife,
She ruined my life,
And I wish I was single again.

She beat me, she banged me, oh then, oh then,
She beat me, she banged me, oh then.
She beat me, she banged me,
And swore she would hang me,
And I wish I was single again.

She went for a rope, oh then, oh then,
She went for a rope, oh then.
She went for the rope--
Thank goodness it broke--
And I wish I was single again.

My wife, she died, oh then, oh then,
My wife, she died, oh then.
My wife, she died;
I laughed 'til I cried
To think I was single again.

I married another, oh then, oh then,
I married another, oh then.
I married another;
She's the Devil's stepmother;
I wish I was single again.

I wish I was single again, again,
I wish I was single again.
And when I was single,
My pockets did jingle,
And I wish I was single again.

(Dr. Wolf: "Well, that's a good one. Where'd you learn that?"
Mrs. Apple: "I don't remember. I was very small when I learned that, and I don't remember.")

Also found in Randolph, Vol. III, #365, "I Wish I Was Single Again"; Brown, Vol. III, #19, "When I Was Single"; Belden, p. 437, "When I Was Single."