And she has a dress of laces
It's worn in many places
And the shoulder hangs upon her by a thread
And she has a need for sharing
For someone warm and caring
And no one sees a heart that's underfed

Young girl in love
Young girl in tears
She hasn't seen the man
She loves in years

And her mother is a waitress
At the harbor bar, good graces
Where the seamen come a-fishing with their lines
And it was one of them that caught her
And left her with a daughter
Who lives with hate and loving him in mind

Young girl in love
Young girl in tears
She hasn't seen the man
She loves in years

So the young girl goes to the water
And she calls out for her father
But she ain't seen the old man in some time
Yes, and he was always boasting
Just a-drinking and a-toasting
And one day he left his family far behind

Young girl in love
Young girl in tears
She hasn't seen the man
She loves in years

So the mother comes home a-drinking
With a sailor who's a-thinking out loud
That he might stay with them awhile
So she loads her mother's pistol
And she shoots him as he whistles
A song about a sailor's life in style

Young girl in love
Young girl in tears
She kills the only man
She's loved in years

And with him dies her hopes, her dreams, her fears

And she has a dress of laces
It's worn in many places
The shoulder hangs upon her by a thread
And she has a need for sharing
For someone warm and caring
And no one sees a heart that's underfed
And no one sees a heart that's underfed