I Cannot Be Your Sweetheart

DESCRIPTION: Singer asks his beloved to marry him. She refuses; she loves him, but is pledged to another. Ch.: "I cannot be your sweeheart, I cannot stay by your side, Another is patiently waiting, waiting to call me his bride, My heart it is almost broken,,,,"
AUTHOR: Abbie L. Ford (source: Browne-AlabamaFolkLyric)
EARLIEST DATE: 1899 (copyright, according to Browne-AlabamaFolkLyric)
LONG DESCRIPTION: Singer courts his beloved, asks her to marry him. She refuses, saying that though she loves him, she's promised to another. They part; he pines. Chorus: "I cannot be your sweeheart, I cannot stay by your side / Another is patiently waiting, waiting to call me his bride / My heart it is almost broken, your vows only add to my pain / I love you, sweetheart, I love you / Though we never meet again"
KEYWORDS: grief virtue courting love marriage promise rejection lover
FOUND IN: US(Ap,So)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Browne-AlabamaFolkLyric 44, "I Cannot Be Your Sweetheart" (1 text, 1 tune, plus mention of 2 more)
Roud #4964
RECORDINGS:
[Blind James] Howard & [Charles] Peak, "I Cannot Be Your Sweetheart" (Victor V-40189, 1930; rec. 1928; on KMM)
NOTES [23 words]: A classic plot, but apparently not a member of another song family. Nor could I find it in sheet music; possibly Howard or Peak wrote it. - PJS
Last updated in version 4.3
File: RcICBYSH

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