Sweet Fern
The Carter Family Lyrics

Springtime is coming, sweet lonesome bird
The singer hears a bird singing in the woods and realizes that spring is approaching.

Your echo in the woodland I hear
The singer hears the bird's song echoing through the woods.

Down in the meadow so lonesome you're singing
The bird is singing a lonesome song in the meadow.

While the moonlight is shining so clear
The moon is shining brightly while the bird sings in the meadow.

But I know he's away in a far distant land
The artist's lover is far away in another country.

A land that is over the sea
The distant land where the singer's lover is located is across an ocean.

Go fly to him singing your sweet little song
The singer urges the bird to carry a message to her lover through its song.

And tell him to come back to me
The artist wants the bird to ask her lover to return to her.

Sweet Fern (Sweet Fern) Sweet Fern (Sweet Fern)
The artist is addressing the bird by its name.

Oh, tell me, is my darling still true
The artist asks the bird to inquire about her lover's faithfulness.

I'll be just as happy as you
The singer hopes that she will be as happy as the singing bird if her lover returns.

Oh, tell me, sweet Fern, is he thinking of me
The artist asks the bird if her lover still thinks of her.

And the promise he made long ago
The singer reminds the bird that her lover made a promise to return to her.

He said he'd return from over the sea
The singer's lover promised to return from the distant land across the sea.

Oh, why do the earth roll so slow
The singer wonders why time seems to pass so slowly while she waits for her lover's return.

Upon my finger he placed a small ring
Before he left, the artist's lover gave her a ring as a symbol of their love.

On the day he was leaving his home
The ring was given to the artist on the day her lover left his home to go to the distant land.

I promised I'd be his own dear little girl
The singer promised to be her lover's faithful companion and love him wherever he went.

Sweet Fern (Sweet Fern) Sweet Fern (Sweet Fern)
The singer repeats the bird's name.

Oh, tell me, is my darling still true
The artist asks the bird to inquire about her lover's faithfulness once again.

I'll be just as happy as you
The artist hopes that she will be as happy as the singing bird when she is reunited with her lover.

Well, a-lee-oh-lay-ee
This is a vocalization that may be interpreted as a joyful exclamation.

Well, a-lee-ho-lee-oh-lay-ee
This is another vocalization that may be interpreted as a joyful exclamation.

Yeah, lee-oh-lay-ee-hee-oh
This is yet another vocalization that may be interpreted as a joyful exclamation.

Lee-oh-lay-ee
This is a final joyful exclamation.