A soul cake, a soul cake. Please, good missus, a soul cake. An apple, a pear, a plum or a cherry. Any good thing to make us all merry. . A soul cake, a soul cake.
Come all ye fair and tender ladies. Take warning how you court your men. They're like the stars on a summer's mornin'. First they'll appear and then they're gone.
My horses ain't hungry. They won't eat your hay. So fare thee well, darlin'. I'm goin' away. . Your parents don't like me. They say I'm too poor. They say I'm not worthy.
Take off your old coat and roll up your sleeves. Life is a hard road to travel, I believe. . I look to the east, I look to the west. A youth asking fate to be rewardin'.
When first I came to Louisville, my fortune there to find. I met a fair young maiden there, her beauty filled my mind. Her rosy cheek, her ruby lips, they gave my heart no rest.
I went up the levee to pack some sacks. And I thought I'd bring me some money back. Big boat up the river and she can't come down. My woman on the levee wearing a frown.
Hey ho, nobody home. Meat nor drink nor money, have I none. Yet shall we be merry. Hey ho, nobody home. . Meat nor drink nor money, have I none. Yet shall we be merry.