I once had a dark haired true lover She was all this world to me She promised herself to another Now don't you think this was mean Chorus Take back every word you have spoken Let it be as though we never met For tonight I'm a poor boy heartbroken I'll forgive but I'll never forget I was young when I wrote my first letter I blotted the lines with tears But now I am old, I know better We've parted for many long years Chorus Oh, Ruth, Oh, Ruth, how I love you You just seemed to me like a bird Although you went back on your promise Although you went back on your word Chorus We parted in the month of September Some says we parted for life But I hope some day or another I'll call you my sweet darling wife Chorus I wish I had someone to love me Someone to call me their own For I'm out in this wide world a-wandering I'm tired of living alone