The ToneWay® Project: helping people play music


Wildwood Flower

I'll twine 'mid the ringlets of 5 raven black 1 hair
The lilies so pale and the 5 roses so 1 fair
The myrtle so bright with an 4 emerald 1 hue
And the pale aronatus with 5 eyes of bright 1 blue

I'll sing and I'll dance, my laugh shall be gay
I'll cease this wild weeping drive sorrow away
Tho' my heart is now breaking, he never shall know
That his name made me tremble and my pale cheek to glow

I'll think of him never, I'll be wildly gay
I'll charm every heart and the crowd I will sway
I'll live yet to see him regret the dark hour
When he won then neglected this frail wildwood flower

He told me he loved me and promised to love
Through ill and misfortune, all others above
Another has won him, oh misery to tell
He left me in silence no words of farewell

He taught me to love him, he called me his flower
That blossomed for him all the brighter each hour
But I woke from my dreaming, my idol was clay
My visions of love have all faded away


A song from the The ToneWay Mountain Music Collection, which offers lyrics and free Song Clips (recordings for learning the song by ear) for nearly 400 traditional songs, many of which are often heard in bluegrass and old-time jam circles. The ToneWay Project also offers songbooks, CDs, and a free online video series for learning to play music by ear. http://ToneWay.com