Alice Sommer Vermette, 2002

My favorite song that my mother sang to me as a child, a song that her mother sang to her when she was a child (to the tune of “Red River Valley”)

[Alice’s version]

May I sleep in your barn tonight Mister
It is cold lying here on the ground,
And I have no tobacco or matches
And I’m sure I will do you no harm.

I will tell you my story kind Mister
A story that’s never been told

It was three years ago last November
I will never forget that sad day
When a stranger came out from the city
And said that he wanted to stay.

One day as I came in from my workshop
I was whistling and singing a song
And expecting a warm hearted welcome
From my sweet loving wife and my son.

But what should I find but a letter
I picked it right up in my hand
It said that my wife and the stranger
Had left me and taken my son.

I wonder if God up in heaven
Knows what the stranger has done.

[Aunt Joan’s version]

May I sleep in your barn tonight mister
It is cold lying out on the ground
The cold north wind it is blowing
And I have no place to lie down.

I have no tobacco or matches
And I’m sure I will do you no harm
I will tell you my story kind mister
It went through my heart like a storm.

It was three years last November
I will never forget that sad day
When a stranger came out from the city
And said that he wanted to stay.

One day as I came from my workshop
I was whistling and singing with joy
I expected a kind-hearted welcome
From my sweet loving wife and my boy.

But what should I find but a letter
It was placed in the room on a stand
And the moment my eyes fell upon it
I picked it right up in my hand.

It said that my wife and the stranger
Had left and had taken my son
I wonder if God up in heaven
Knows what the stranger has done.