down by the river
that flows by the coal yards
stand wooden houses
with shutters torn down
there lives a girl
everybody calls patches
patches my darling
from old shanty town
we plan to marry
when june brought the summer
i couldn't wait
to make patches my bride
but now i don't see how that ever can happen
my folks say no
and my heart breaks inside
patches oh what can i do
i swear i'll always love you
but girls from that place
will just bring me disgrace
so my folks won't let me love you
each night i cry as i think of that shanty
and pretty patches will watching the door
she doesn't know that i can't go to see her
i just must think that i love her no more
i hear a neighbor telling my father
he says a girl named patches was found
floating face down in that dirty old river
that flows by the coal yards in old shanty town
patches oh what can i do
i swear i'll always love you
it may not be bright
but i'll join you tonight
patches i'm coming to you
