I've Only Loved Three Women

I’ve only loved three women in
All my weary life
The first one was my mother
The one who gave me life
Then God gave me a sister
I loved her more than life
And after I grew to be a man
I took my darling wife

For I’ve only loved three women
In all my lonesome life my mother, dear
My sister fair and my dear darling wife

We traveled east, we traveled west
And God knows that I’ve tried
For ev’ry time she did me wrong
I’d forgive my loving wife
I’d take her in my loving arms
Forgive again and again
Till one spring day she ran away with
A man I thought was my friend
For I’ve only loved three women
In all my weary life
My sister and my mother
Dear and my dear darling wife

Then I traveled east, I traveled west
But I traveled all alone
And after two long years have gone
I found a man wrecked my home
They put me in the jailhouse
That don’t worry me
For if you take my life away
It will put my worries free

I’ve only loved three women
In all my weary life
My sister and my mother
Dear and the one I call my wife