Intro :
Oh M ary w as a m aiden
When the b irds began to s ing
S he was sweeter than the b looming rose
So e arly in the s pring
Her t houghts were g ay and h appy
And the m orning gay and f ine
F or her lover was a r iver boy
From the r iver in the p ines
Now C harlie h e got m arried
To his M ary in the s pring
W hen the trees were budding e arly
And the b irds began to s ing
But e arly i n the a utumn
When the f ruit is in the w ine
I 'll return to you my d arling
From the r iver in the p ines
It was e arly i n the m orning
In Wisc onsin's dreary c lime
W hen he rode the fatal r apids
For that l ast and fatal t ime
They f ound his b ody l ying
On the r ocky shore bel ow
W here the silent water r ipples
And the w hispering cedars b low
Now e very r aft of l umber
That comes d own the Chippew a
T here's a lonely grave that's v isited
By d rivers on their w ay
They p lant wild f lowers upo n it
In the m orning fair and f ine
' Tis the grave of two young l overs
From the r iver in the p ines