I wish to the lord I'd never been born
Or died when I was young
I never would have seen your sparkling blue eyes
Or heard your lying tongue
Chorus:
All the good times are past and gone
All the good times are o'er
All the good times are past and gone
Little darling don't weep no more*
Don't you see that turtle dove
That flies from pine to pine
He's mourning for his own true love
Just like I mourn for mine
Come back, come back my own true love
And stay awhile with me
For if ever I've had a friend in this world
You've been that friend to me.
3/4
Verse and Chorus:
| I | IV-I | I | V |
| I | IV-I | I-V | I |
*Earliest recording by Fred & Gertude Gossett in 1930, the chorus ends with "Darlin' don't you weep for me." Also the Monroe Brothers and the Lilly Brothers chose this ending.