Love, oh, love, oh careless love.
Love, oh, love, oh careless love.
Love, oh, love, oh careless love.
You see what love has done to me.
 
I love my mama and papa too.
I love my mama and papa too.
I love my mama and papa too.
I'd leave them both to go with you.
 
What, oh what will mama say,
What, oh what will mama say,
What, oh what will mama say,
When she learns I've gone astray?
 
Once I wore my apron low,
Once I wore my apron low,
Once I wore my apron low,
I couldn't scarcely keep you from my door.

Now my apron strings don't pin,
Now my apron strings don't pin,
Now my apron strings don't pin,
You pass my door and don't come in.

Don't you marry a railroad man.
Don't you marry a railroad man.
A railroad man will kill you if he can,
And he'll drink your blood,
    drink it like wine.