Verse 1:

[C]Oh, I'll twine with my mingles and [G7]waving black [C]hair
[C]With the roses so red and the [G7]lilies so [C]fair
[C]And the myrtles so bright with [F]emerald [C]dew
[C]The pale and the leader and [G7]eyes look like [C]blue.

Verse 2:

[C]Oh, I'll dance, I will sing and my [G7]laugh shall be [C]gay
[C]I will charm ev'ry heart, in his [G7]crown I will [C]sway
[C]When I woke from my dreaming, [F]idols were [C]clay
[C]All portions of love then had [G7]all flown a[C]way.

Verse 3:

[C]Oh, he taught me to love him and [G7]promised to [C]love
[C]And to cherish me over all [G7]others a[C]bove
[C]How my heart now is wond'ring [F]misery can [C]tell
[C]He's left me no warning, no [G7]words of fare[C]well.

Verse 4:

[C]Oh, he taught me to love him and [G7]called me his [C]flow'r
[C]That was blooming to cheer him through [G7]life's dreary [C]hour
[C]Oh, I'm longing to see him through [F]life's dark [C]hour
[C]He's gone and neglected this [G7]pale wildwood [C]flow'r.

Original poem by Maud Irving and J.P. Webster, 1860

I'll Twine 'Mid the Ringlets
I'll twine 'mid the ringlets of my raven black hair
The lilies so pale and the roses so fair
The myrtle so bright with an emeral hue
And the pale aronatus with eyes of bright blue.
I'll sing and I'll dance, my laugh shall be gay
I'll cease this wild weeping, drive sorrow away.
Tho' my heart is now breaking, he never shall know
That his name made me tremble and my pale cheeks to glow.
Another has won him; ah, misery to tell
He left me in silence, no word of farewell.
He taught me to love him, he call'd me his flower
That blossom'd for him all the brighter each hour
But I woke from my dreaming, my idol was clay
My visions of love have all faded away.

Click here to listen to an NPR essay about the history of this song. Very interesting listening, part of the NPR 100 series.