Brunswick Stew

Am E Am E In Boston town by the water side Am E Am C A place of noted fame and pride C A fine young girl both pure and chaste Am G Am E Am Grew thick and wide around the waist Am "We feed the girl on fish and bread," Am The young girl’s mother to father said C "We feed the girl on the Brunswick stew Am G Am E Am And that is why her torso grew" Am "Although we raised our daughter well," Am The young girl’s father to mother did tell C "I fear our daughter has us beguiled Am G Am E Am I fear that she's been brought with child" Am Said the mother, "We'll send the girl away Am Before the dark night turns to day C We must not let the whole town see Am G Am E Am For we are held in high degree" Am E N.C. Am Parents in the parlor, daughter in the hall Am Of their sharp words she heard them all C Of their sharp words her eyes grew dim Am G Am E Am She'd been betrayed by her own kin Am E Am E She went upstairs to take her rest Am E Am C And in the night she found distress C That night she heard her babe's first cry Am G That night she knew her babe must die G A C Am Cm C Am The gale wind blew and bent the trees Am She stood in the river up to her knees C She drenched the hem of her night gown Am G Am E Am She left the baby there to drown Am So the mother and father did turn their cheek Am Not a word of the daughter did they speak C Though slender in the waist she’d grown Am G Their daughter's cruel deed will never be known