THOUSAND MILE BLUES
(Jean Ritchie)

Farewell, farewell, you old true love
I must leave you for a while
The birds do sing on every tree
He's gone for a thousand miles, little love
He's gone for a thousand miles

Oh, a thousand miles, that is very far away
And you will be gone so long
Oh, who will bear me sweet company
Or converse with me and sing me a song, little love
Or converse with me and sing me a song

Yes, a thousand miles, that is very far away
But I won't be gone so long
Your mama can bear you sweet company
And your papa can sing you a song, little love
And your papa can sing you a song

Well, I wisht I was in some dark holler place
Where the turtle doves mourn so low
I would tell them about you a-going away
And I'm sure they would mourn the more, little love
And I'm sure they would mourn the more

Well, the sun has to rise in the East, my dear
And the moon go down in the West
And it's ever' little bird has to try its wings
Before it can build its nest, little love
Before it can build its nest

filename[ THOUMIL3
JN
oct96

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Corrected Version

The DT version is almost correct, except for the first line. Note added tune.

THOUSAND-MILE BLUES
(Jean Ritchie)

Farewell, farewell, my own true love;
I must leave you for a while.
The birds do sing on every tree,
He's gone for a thousand miles, little love,
He's gone for a thousand miles.

O a thousand miles, is very far away,
And you will be gone so long.
Oh, who will keep me sweet company,
Or converse with me and sing me a song, little love,
Or converse with me and sing me a song?

Yes, a thousand miles, is very far away,
But I won't be gone so long.
Your Mama can keep you sweet company,
And your Papa can sing you a song, little love,
Your Papa can sing you a song.

I wish I was in some dark holler place,
Where the turtle doves mourn so low.
I would tell them about you a-goin' away,
And I'm sure they would mourn the more, little love,
And I'm sure they would mourn the more.

Well, the sun has to rise in the east, my dear,
And the moon go down in the west;
And it's every little bird has to try its wings,
Before it can build its nest, little love,
Before it can build its nest.


© 1971, Geordie Music Publishing

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