Maggie Walker Blues
Clarence Lyrics

My parents raised me tenderly,
I was raised by my parents with great care and affection.

They had no child but me.
I was their only child, their only source of joy and happiness.

My mind being placed on rambling,
I had a strong desire to explore and wander the world.

With them I couldn't agree
However, I couldn't agree to stay with them and abandon my desire to travel.

Just to leave my aged parents
I felt that it was my destiny to leave my elderly parents and embark on my journey.

And them no more to see.
I knew that I might never see them again but felt that I had to move on.

There was a wealthy gentleman
I met a rich man when I was traveling.

Who lived there very near by.
He lived close to my parents' house.

He had a beautiful daughter,
The rich man had a daughter who was stunningly beautiful.

On her I cast an eye.
I immediately noticed and became interested in her.

She was so tall and slender,
She was slim and tall, strikingly elegant.

So pretty and so fair.
Her beauty was unmatched, she was the most stunning girl I had ever seen.

There never was a girl in this whole wide world
I swear, there is no other girl in the entire world

With her I could compare.
Who could match her beauty and grace?

I asked her if it differed
I asked her if it mattered to her

If I crossed over the plain.
If I crossed the plain and left this place.

She said, "It makes no difference
She said that it didn't matter to her at all

If you never return again."
Even if I never came back.

We too shook hands and parted,
We mutually parted, bidding goodbye.

And I left my girl behind.
I left her behind as I continued my journey.

I started out in this wide world
I moved on, in this wide world, searching for something or someone.

Strange faces for to see.
I met new people and saw new places, witnessing diverse and strange cultures.

I met little Maggie Walker
I met Maggie Walker on my journey.

And she fell in love with me.
She fell for me and gave me all of her heart.

Her pockets all lined with greenback
Maggie was financially secure, having plenty of money.

And her labor I'll grow old,
I promised to spend the rest of my life with her, cherishing her companionship.

Now if you'll consent to marry me
If you say yes to my proposal

I'll say I'll roam no more.
I will settle down with you and give up my wandering ways.

I traveled out one morning,
One day I went out for a ride.

To the salt works I were bound.
I went to the salt works, to see what work was available there.

And when I reached the salt works
Upon reaching the salt works,

I viewed the city all around.
I looked around and saw the entire city.

Work and money were plentiful
The town was thriving, and work opportunities were abundant.

And the girls all kind to me.
The ladies were all welcoming, friendly, and hospitable.

But the only object to my heart
Despite all of that, there was only one girl who held a place in my heart

Was a girl in Tennessee.
And that girl was the one I left behind in Tennessee.

I traveled out one morning
One day, I went for a ride

Down on the market square.
to the public square to see what was happening.

The mail train being on arrival,
I saw the mail carrier who was just arriving.

I met the carrier there.
I met the mail carrier at the station.

He handed me a letter,
He gave me a letter, which he had for me.

So's I could understand
So that I could read

That the girl I left in Tennessee
That the girl I left behind in Tennessee

Had married another man.
Had married someone else.

I drove on down a little further
I kept going, a short distance ahead.

And found that it was true.
I looked into it, and it was verified.

I turned my horse and buggy around
I turned around and headed back in the opposite direction.

But I didn't know what to do.
I wasn't sure of what my next step should be.

I turned all around and about there --
I was so confused that I looked back and forth

Bad company I'll resign;
I resolved to cut off relationships with dubious people.

I'll drive all about from town to town
I will wander aimlessly from town to town.

For the girl I left behind.
In search of the girl whom I left behind in Tennessee.