trad
Lady Maisery says their tune, basically the one I know, was collected from a Sam P. Bayard of Pennsylvania and included in Lomax 1934. Sandy & Caroline Paton say their version recorded 1966 on “Songs of Beech Mountain, North Carolina” was collected from a Mrs. Buna Hicks, who said that the song was regularly used to end religious services, or “camp meetings”, in her area, years ago, and that her mother was always asked to sing it.ÿ
Fathers, now our meeting is over Fathers we must part If I never see you anymore I love you in my heart And we’ll stand on the shore (X3) And be safe forever more