Susan Graham Pepper - Awake, Awake

14. Awake, Awake
(trad. from Lee Monroe Presnell)

Awake, awake my old true lover
Awake arise, it’s almost day
How can you bear the soft, soft sleepin’
When your true love goin’ away?

O who is that knockin’ at my window
I pray you tell to me
It’s me, it’s me, your old true lover
Awake, arise, come pity me

Go love, go, and ask your papa
If this night, you can be my bride
If he says know, then return and tell me
Be the last time, ever bother thee

I can’t go and ask my Papa
For he’s on his bed of rest
And by his side, there lies a weapon
To kill the one that I love best

Go love, go, and ask your Mama
If this night, you can be my bride
If she says know, then return and tell me
Be the last time, ever bother thee

I can’t go and ask my Mama
And tell her of your love so dear
You may go and court some other
And whisper softly in her ear

I’ll go down to some wide river
Spend my weeks, my months and years
Eat anything but the green growing willer
Also drink from my flowing tears

Come back come back, my old true lover
And stay a little while with me
I will forsake my dear old mother
And go along by the side of thee