The Dying Youth (Awful, Awful, Awful)

I saw a youth the other day,
All in his bloom, lookin' so gay;
He trifled all his time away
An' dropped into Eternity.
An' it's awful, awful awful!

As he lay on his dyin' bed
Eternity he seemed to dread,
He says, "Oh Lord, I see my state,
I am afraid, I have come too late,"
An'it's awful, awful, awful.

His tender sister standin' by,
"Dear brother," she says, "you're goin'to die,
Your joys are o'er, your days are past,
You're goin' to [end your life} at last,
An' it's awful, awful, awful.

He called his parents to the bed,
An' in his dyin' anguish said,
"Oh my dear parents, pray for me
For I am bound for Eternity,"
An' it's awful, awful, awful.

A few more dyin' words was passed,
These turrible words they was his last,
He says, "Oh parents, fare you well,
By devils I am dragged to hell,"
An' it's awful, awful, awful.

His corpse was laid beneath the ground,
His brothers an' sisters a-weepin' round,
With achin' hearts an' wanderin' minds
For fear their brother was in hell confined,
An' it's awful, awful, awful.

Oh my heart aches, oh my breast burns,
To see you all so unconcerned,
Believe an' repent while you have time,
Or else you'll be in hell confined,
An' it's awful, awful, awful.

From Ozark Folksongs, Randolph
Collected from Mrs. Susan Bailey, MO, 1929
RG