Oh, Mary was a maiden
When the birds began to sing
She was sweeter than the blooming rose
So early in the spring
Her thoughts were gay and happy
And the morning gay and fine
For her lover was a river boy
From the river in the pines


Now Charlie he got married
To his Mary in the spring
When the trees were budding early
And the birds began to sing
But early in the autumn
When the fruit is in the wine
I'll return to you my darling
from the river in the pines


It was early in the morning
In Wisconsin dreary clime
When he ruled the fatal rapids
For that last and fatal time
They found his body lying
on the rocky shore below
Where the silent water ripples
and the whispering cedars blow


Now every raft of lumber
That comes down the Chippeway
There'w a lonely grave
that's visited by drivers on their way.
They plant wild flowers upon it
in the morning fair and fine
It is the grave of two young lovers
from the river

 

 in the pines.