THE ROBIN SANG IN THE LINDEN TREE
Sung by: Mrs. W.B. Apple
Recorded on 7/20/62

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(Comment by Mrs. Apple: "This is called 'The Robin Sang in the Linden Tree.' My dad bought an old organ years and years ago, and in with this organ was an old book, and this song I learned, and I think I taught the others in this community this song.")

Oh, the robin sang in the linden tree.
Tra-la-la-la, tra-la-la-la.
When young Willy Gray came courting me,
Tra-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
Oh, Willy was brave, and Willy was tall,
While I was so young, just sixteen in all,
And I wondered why Willy came courting me
When the robin sang in the linden tree.

Oh, the robin sang in the linden tree,
Tra-la-la-la, tra-la-la-la.
When young Willy Gray came courting me,
Tra-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
And sweetly and long sang robin that day.
We sat side by side as he caroled away,
And young Willy was stealing his heart from me
While the robin sang in the linden tree.

Oh, the robin sang in the linden tree,
Tra-la-la-la, tra-la-la-la.
When young Willy Gray vowed he loved but me,
Tra-la-la-la, la-la-la-la,
But I was so young, and I was so shy,
I scarcely could decide to laugh or to cry,
But I knew I was happy as I could be
When the robin sang in the linden tree.

All Songs Recorded by John Quincy Wolf, Jr., unless otherwise noted

The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection
Lyon College, Batesville, Arkansas
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