D
    Springtime is coming, sweet lonesome bird,
         A            A7         D
    your echo in the woodland I hear.

     Down in the meadow so lonesome your singing,
               A            A7          D
    while the moonlight is shining so clear.

            G                  D
    But I know he's away in a far distant land,
       A                     D
    a land that is over the sea.

    Go fly to him singing your sweet little song.
         A           A7          D
    and tell him to come back to me.

       D
Sweet fern, sweet fern, sweet fern, sweet fern,
    A              A7            D
oh tell me, is my darling still true.

Sweet fern, sweet fern, sweet fern, sweet fern,
     A          A7        D
I'll be just as happy as you.

         D
    Oh, tell me sweet fern, is he thinking of me,
              A         A7       D
    and the promise he made long ago.

    He said he'd return from over the sea,
        A          A7            D
    oh why do the years roll so slow.

        G                  D
    I know he's away in a far distant land,
       A                     D
    a land that is over the sea.

    Go fly to him singing your sweet little song.
         A           A7          D
    and tell him to come back to me.

       D
Sweet fern, sweet fern, sweet fern, sweet fern,
    A              A7            D
oh tell me, is my darling still true.

Sweet fern, sweet fern, sweet fern, sweet fern,
     A          A7        D
I'll be just as happy as you.

      D
    Upon my finger he placed a small ring
            A          A7         D
    on the day he was leaving his home .

    I promised I'd be his own little girl,
         A          A7         D
    and love him wherever he'd roam.

        G                  D
    I know he's away in a far distant land,
       A                     D
    a land that is over the sea.

    Go fly to him singing your sweet little song.
         A           A7          D
    and tell him to come back to me.

       D
Sweet fern, sweet fern, sweet fern, sweet fern,
    A              A7            D
oh tell me, is my darling still true.

Sweet fern, sweet fern, sweet fern, sweet fern,
     A          A7        D
I'll be just as happy as you.