User:Memtgs/The Old Maid's Lament

The Old Maid's Lament is an American folk song. It recounts the story of a woman whose younger sisters have married, while she has remained a spinster into middle age. During the chorus of the song, the narrator defines a loose criteria for a husband:


 * A linman, a tinman, a tinker, a tailor,
 * A fiddler, a peddler, a plough-man, a sailor;
 * Come gentle, come simple, come foolish, come witty,
 * Don't let me die an old maid, but take me out of pity!

Variations
The song is known by many titles, including "Old Maid's Song," "Sister Susan", and "The Spinster's Lament", "Old Maid's Complaint", and "Old Maid's Petition".

Pete Seeger recorded a rendition of the song for the Smithsonian Folkways label.