A man's best fortune, or his worst, is his wife

A man's best fortune, or his worst, is his wife

Were such the wife had fallen to my part,
I'd break her spirit, or I'd break her heart.

Were such the wife had fallen to my part,
I'd break her spirit, or I'd break her heart.

My gran'ther's rule was safer 'n 't is to crow:
Don't never prophesy--onless ye know.

My gran'ther's rule was safer 'n 't is to crow:
Don't never prophesy--onless ye know.

My fond affection thou hast seen,
Then judge of my regret
To think more happy thou hadst read more

My fond affection thou hast seen,
Then judge of my regret
To think more happy thou hadst been
If we had never met!
And has that thought been shared by thee?
Ah, no! that smiling cheek
Proves more unchanging love for me
Than labor'd words could speak.

And while the wicket falls behind
Her steps, I thought if I could find
A wife I read more

And while the wicket falls behind
Her steps, I thought if I could find
A wife I need not blush to show
I've little further now to go.

All married women are not wives

All married women are not wives

Till old experience do attain
To something like prophetic strain.

Till old experience do attain
To something like prophetic strain.

In every mess I find a friend,
In every port a wife.

In every mess I find a friend,
In every port a wife.

Now voe me I can zing on my business abrode:
Though the storm do beat down on my poll,
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Now voe me I can zing on my business abrode:
Though the storm do beat down on my poll,
There's a wife brighten'd vire at the end of my road,
An' her love, voe the jay o' my soul.