Joe Bowers
Performer(s): Walter Vaughn



My name it tis Joe Bowers
I have a brother Ike
I came from old Missouri
And all th way from Pike 

I'll tell you why I came here
And why I came to roam
To leave my dear old mother
So far away from home 

I used to court a gal there
Whose name was Sally Black
I asked her if she'd marry me
She said, it was a whack 

She said to me, Joe Bowers
You are the man to win
Here's a kiss to bind th bargin
An' she hooves a dozen in 

I said to her, dear Sally
O, Sally for your sake
I'll go to California
And try to make a stake 

Says, she to me, Joe Bowers
Before we hitch for life
You ought to get a little home
To keep your little wife 

I went to California
Put in my biggest licks
Went down upon th boulders
Just like a thousand bricks 

I worked both late an' early
In rain and sun and snow
I was working for my Sally
It was all th same to Joe 

At length, I got a letter
From my dear brother Ike
It came from old Missouri
And all th way from Pike 

It brought to me, the darndest news
That ever I did hear
My heart was almost bursting
Was almost in despair 

It says, that Sal was false to me
Her love to me had fled
She got married to a butcher
And th butchers hair was red 

And more than that, the letter said
Enough to make you swear
That Sally had a baby
And the baby had red hair