Mary was a maiden
When the birds began to sing
She was fairer than the blooming rose
Early in the spring
Her thoughts were gay and happy
And the morning rare and fine
For her lover was a river boy
From the river in the pines

Charlie got married
To his Mary in the spring
When the trees were budding early
And the birds began to sing
But early in the autumn
When the fruit is in the wine
I'll return to you, my darling
From the river in the pines

Was early in the morning
In Wisconsin's dreary clime
When he rode the lonely rapids
For that last and fatal time
They found his body lying
On the rocky shores below
Where the silent water ripples
And the whispering cedars blow

Now with every raft of lumber
That comes down the Chippewa
There's a lonely grave that's visited
By drivers on their way
They plant wild flowers upon it
In the morning fair and fine
'tis the grave of two young lovers
From the river in the pines

Well they plant wild flowers upon it
In the morning fair and fine
'tis the grave of two young lovers
From the river in the pines

In the pines
In the pines