I know this dress i'm wearing doesn't hide the secret i have tried concealing

When he left he promised me that he'd be back by the time it was revealing

The sun behind a cloud just casts the crawling shadow o'er the fields of clover

And time is running out for me i wish that he would hurry down from dover

He's been gone so long when he left the snow was deep upon the ground

And i have seen a spring and summer pass and now the leaves are turning brown

And any time a tiny face will show itself 'cause waiting's almost over

But i won't have a name to give it if he doesn't hurry down from dover



My folks weren't understanding when they found out they sent me from the home place

My daddy said if folks found out he'd be ashamed to ever show his face

My mamma said i was a fool and she did not believe it when i told her

That everything would be all right 'cause soon he would be coming down from dover



I loved him more than anything and i could not refuse him when he needed me

He was the only one i'd loved and i just can't believe that he was using me

He couldn't leave me here like this i know it can't be so it can't be over

He wouldn't make me go through this so long, oh he'll be coming down from dover



My body aches the time is here it's lonely in this place where i'm lyin'

Our baby has been born but something's wrong it's much too still i hear no cryin'

I guess in some strange way she knew she'd never have a father's arms to hold her

And dying was her way of telling me he wasn't coming down from dover