I Once Had a Heart

This item is part of the I. G. Greer Folksong Collection which consists of more than 300 individual song titles and their variants as collected by Isaac Garfield Greer (1881-1967) from informants, primarily in Ashe, Wilkes and Watauga counties. The collection includes manuscripts, typescript transcriptions produced by Dr. Greer’s clerical staff, and handwritten musical notations. Songs range from traditional Child Ballads, traditional English and Scottish ballads as well as their American variants, to 19th century popular music to musical compositions of local origin.

Folk songs

Heart--Songs and music

Lovesickness--Songs and music

AC.113 Isaac Garfield (I.G.) Greer Papers and Recordings

W. L. Eury Appalachian Collection, Appalachian State University

Greer, I. G. (Isaac Garfield), 1881-1967

PDF

English

Text

Father

Verse 1`
F. is for the fireside Smokes together
A. is all that he has given me
T. is for all the times we have had together
H. is for his heartstrings made of gold
E. is for the Eyes now growing dimmer
R. is right and Square He's been with me
Put it all to gather it spells “father”
the best friend and xallx pal a man can be

I Once had a heart
and it was true
It has left me & gone to you
now you must take care of it as I have done
for you have too & I have none
So tell me darling if you love me
it would cure my aking heart
for from sorrow it is breaking
to think we too so far apart.

Written By
James W. Martin

James W. Martin, 1882-1967

113_IOnceHadAHeart