Joan Baez Wagoner's Lad lyrics

Oh, hard is the fortune of all womankind
She's always controlled, she's always confined
Controlled by her parents until she's a wife
A slave to her husband the rest of her life

Oh, I'm just a poor girl, my fortune is sad
I've always been courted by the wagoner's lad
He's courted me daily, by night and by day
And now he is loading and going away

Oh, my parents don't like him because he is poor
They say he's not worthy of entering my door
He works for a living, his money's his own
And if they don't like it, they can leave him alone


‽Oh, your horses are hungry, go feed them some hay
Then sit down here by me as long as you may”
‽My horses ain't hungry, they won't eat your hay
So fare thee well, darling, I'll be on my way”

‽Oh, your wagon needs greasing, your whip is to mend
Then sit down by me as long as you can”
‽My wagon is greasy, my whip's in my hand
So fare thee well, darling, no longer to stand”