Hard luck is the fortune of all woman kind
They're always controlled, they're always confined
Controlled by her parents until they are wives
Then they're slaves to their husbands the rest of their lives

I once knew a girl and her story is sad
She'd oft times been courted by the wagoner lad
He's courted her truly, by night and by day
Now his wagon's all loaded, he's pulling away

Your horses are hungry, go feed them some hay
Then sit down beside me for as long as you may
My horses ain't hungry, they won't eat your hay
So fare thee well darlin I'm pulling away

Your parents don't like me they say I'm too poor
They say I'm not worthy to enter your door
I work for a living, all my money's my own
And if they don't like me they can leave me alone