Lyrics:
First verse
A girl named Sarah Gorton Once knew a man named Morton; Now Morton thought that Sarah was as sweet as she could be. Thro' lanes and meadows both would walk, And loving words would Morton talk: ""Dear Sarah, I'm in love with you, now won't you marry me?"" But little Sara Gorton Sometime before was courtin'; She knew a thing or two, you know, and jollied him along; So when he said ""I love but you,"" She answered ""men are never true,"" And with a twinkle in her eye, she'd sing this little song:
Refrain
Mister Morton, stop your courtin', I don't want to wed, Married life is care and strife, So my mamma said. Now be good, you know you should, Don't be rude, I pray; Mister Morton, stop your courtin', Or I'll run away Mister Morton, stop your courtin', I don't want to wed, Married life is care and strife, So my mamma said. Now be good, you know you should, Don't be rude, I pray; Mister Morton, stop your courtin', Or I'll run awaySecond verse - So bad indeed felt Morton, To think that Sarah Gorton Refused to listen to the strains that came from his sad heart, He contemplated suicide, For Sarah would not be his bride. When he was gone she then would know how sad it was to part; So to the river Morton went, On ending all, his mind was bent; He’d throw himself with all his might into the raging main; But as he stood upon the shore To end his life forevermore, Dear Sarah grabbed his coattail quick, and shouted this refrain:
(Refrain)