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BLIND CHILD (THE BLIND GIRL) Sung by: Almeda Riddle Recorded on 5/10/62 Click here to listen to the original recording You'll wed another bride, That you're gonna hold her in your arms Where my dear Mother died. "They say her name is Mary, too, The name my mother bore, But Papa, is she kind and true Like the one you loved before? "Please, Papa, do not bid me come And meet your lovely bride. I could not greet her in the room Where my dear Mama died. "Her picture's hanging on the wall, Her books are lying near, And there's the harp her fingers touched. There sets her vacant chair." (Mrs. Riddle: "There's a verse right there I don't quite get. Let's see." Dr. Wolf: "The chair by which I often set . . .") "The chair by which I often knelt And said my evening prayer, Oh, Papa, it will break my heart. I cannot meet her there." (Mrs. Riddle: "But this one, 'They say her name is Mary, too,' there's another verse behind that, so we'll do that over.") "They say that her name is Mary, too, The name my mother bore, But Papa, is she kind and true, Like the one you loved before? "And is her voice so soft and low, Her tone so meek and mild? And Papa, do you think she could love This blind and helpless child? "Now let me kneel down by your side, And to our Savior pray That God will keep you and your bride Through life's long weary way." The prayer was offered; a song she sang. "I'm weary now," she said. Her father took her in his arms, And laid her on her bed. But as he turned to leave the room, One joyful shout was given. He turned and caught her last sweet smile, But the blind child was in Heaven. They buried her by her mother's side, And raised a marble fair, And on it were those simple words: "There are no blind ones there." (Mrs. Riddle: "It's a little too high and a little off-key, but that's that.") Also found in Randolph, Vol. IV, #724, "The Blind Child"; Brown, Vol. II, #149, "The Blind Girl"; Belden, p. 275, "The Blind Child." |
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All Songs Recorded by John Quincy Wolf, Jr., unless otherwise noted The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection Lyon College, Batesville, Arkansas Back to the Song Index Back to the Wolf Collection Homepage ©Copyright 2002 Lyon College |