Fred, I agree that the ending verse seems oddly backwards. It's a floating verse that has been tacked onto a number of songs, and it appears in both positive and negative senses: encouraging (sad to happy) and cautionary (happy to sad). I suspect some transcriber was flying on autopilot and accidentally inverted it.

Regardless of whether there's a gap in which the cad sweet-talks himself back into her favor, the encouraging form of the final verse clearly conflicts with the song's opening situation. It reminds me of P.D.Q. Bach's "The Stoned Guest", where all the characters die tragically, then suddenly jump up and sing "Happy ending, happy ending, happy ending for all!"

I think the cautionary form wraps up the song nicely, taking some edge off the woman's precipitate decision to sequester herself just because of one jackass. And since I really like the tune, I welcome an excuse to sing it one more time.

I do wish the song had additional verses, but not if they make her reconcile with him. Rather, I'd like to see her get revenge by having him pressed back into service, or something along those lines.