PATCHES
(Original Version)


Down by the river that flows by the coal yards
Stand wooden houses with shutters torn down
The walls are all gray after years eating cold dust
Shutters are broken the lawns are burned brown
There lives a girl everybody calls Patches
There lives a girl who’s the love of my life
She is so pretty but I cannot have her
Though Patches loves me we must stay apart
Patches oh what can I do, I swear I’ll always love you
But my folks say no so I just can’t go
To your sweet lips and our loving arms.
We planned to marry when June brought the summer
I couldn’t wait to make Patches my bride
Now I don’t see how that ever can happen
My folks say no and my heart breaks inside.
Each night I cry as I think of that shanty
And pretty Patches there watching the door
She never knows why I can’t come to see her
Patches must think I don’t love her no more
Patches oh what can I do I swear I’ll always love you
But a girl from that place will just bring me disgrace
So my folks won’t let me love you
I hear a neighbor telling my father
Something that’s making my heart skip a beat
I hear him mention a girl they call Patches
Shaking I quietly rise to my feet
I start to cry now as I hear the story
They say a girl name of Patches was found
Floating face down in that dirty old river
That flows by the coal yard in old shanty town
Patches oh what can I do I swear I’ll always love you
And though it may no be right but I’ll join you tonight
Patches I’m coming to you.


(Contributed by Cyril Murray - June 2004)


*****


PATCHES
Dickey Lee - 1962


Down by the river that flows by the coal yards.
Stand wooden houses with shutters torn down
There lives a girl everybody calls Patches
Patches my darling of Old Shanty town

We plan to marry when June brought the summer
I couldn't wait to make Patches my bride
Now I don't see how that ever can happen
My folks say No, and my heart breaks inside

Patches oh what can I do
I swear I'll always love you 
But a girl from that place would just bring me disgrace
So my folks won't let me love you

Each night I cry as I think of that shanty
And pretty Patches there watching the door
She doesn't know that I can't come to see her
Patches must think that I love her no more

I hear a neighbour telling my father
He said a girl name of Patches was found
Floating face down in that dirty old river
That flows by the coal yards in Old Shanty Town

Patches oh what can I do
I swear I'll always love you
It may not be right 
But I'll join you tonight
Patches I'm coming to you.